Museum of Natural History presents “ Darwin” Photographed by Krisztina Fazekas Reviewed by Armistead Johnson

It’s the hot debate right now that has America divided into two separate, and separately fierce camps…and I’m not talking about “Team Jessica vs. Team Nick.”

I’m talking about evolution vs. creationism.

This is an issue that I thought science had put to rest, but like Cher, it just doesn’t seem to get old. The Museum of Natural history has, for its part, spent 3 million dollars and over 6, 000 square feet on evolution’s founding father, Charles Darwin, and his contribution to the issue that even today has America divided.

The exhibit itself however manages to maintain a scientific point of view rather than a political one. It is an exciting mix of actual artifacts (like Darwin’s actual magnifying glass) live animals (like the stunning Galapagos tortoises that fascinated Darwin) and text (like the timeline of the evolution debate.)

The surprise of the exhibit for me was how informative the piece is about Darwin’s personal life. Other than the basics of who he was (the scientist who Inherit the Wind is about, right?), I didn’t know a thing about him. Darwin was a family man, with a wife that he referred to as “that most interesting specimen” and ten children that were scrutinized as closely by their father as any botanical. It was also, the exhibit suggests, the premature death of his oldest daughter, not his scientific research that led Darwin away from the teachings of the church.

Overall, “ Darwin” is an entertaining and informative, if somewhat overwhelming, exhibit that is not to be missed (and I swear I don’t say that every single time I see something!). So with the help of science, both Cher and issues that plagued the country during the Scopes trial, will for now be as fresh as they were in 1925.

“ Darwin” now through May 29th at The American Museum of Natural History (Central Park West @ 79th street.)