This excellent exhibit is now open through August 15, 2009 and it is worth taking the journey along this important old trade route,  and bringing children. This is a fine exhibit: beautifully presented and rich in content. The focus is on 4 major cities on the cross continent route.

Just a mention of the old Silk Road evokes a romanticized  journey in the imagination and this exhibit gives detailed  shape, substance ,  historical context and is aesthetically quite satisfying.

Highlights include LIVE silkworms and an explanation of how silk thread is made and then woven into fabric, old Asian musical instruments ( Sunday afternoons musicians play up-dated versions of these instruments, check the Museum schedule) , a spice market, technical  instruments which are great for both sea and desert navigation by the stars, a lovely large model of a trading ship, an update on the cities covered in the exhibit.

This exhibit works very well if you just want a quick look and is even better if you would want more depth and understanding.

The American  Museum of  Natural History is on Central Park West between 77th Street and 81st Street.