Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History

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Mount It! The Art of Taxidermy

Hastings: Then and Now
Come face-to-face with a gorilla over 100-years-old.

Sponsored by Yellow Book

Open May 31 - October 25, 2009

Brach suit
Kids prefect their mummy wrapping technique.

Are they real animals? Are they stuffed? How did they get there? These are common questions we hear from our young visitors as they walk through the diorama hall looking at the animals. Do you have these same questions? If so, our summer exhibit will answer all of your questions and give you insight into the evolving art of taxidermy.

Mount It! will explore how ancient Egyptian methods of mummification were used to preserve not only people but animals.

Later, scientists and naturalists looked for ways to preserve animals for observation and decoration. Some of their first efforts were nothing more than literally stuffing an animal hide with hay or other materials used to make furniture.

As people looked for better methods to preserve animals in a more natural state, they learned to make forms. A hide would be stretched around the form, thus mounting the hide to the form. These methods would become known as taxidermy, an art that has improved greatly during the last 100 years.

Museum founder, Albert Brooking, works on a Black Footed Ferret mount in the spring of 1933.
Museum founder, Albert Brooking, works on a Black Footed Ferret mount in the spring of 1933.

Mount It! tells about early taxidermists and their work, including the work of Museum Founder Albert Brooking, staff who were trained by him or succeeded him. Museum secrets of creating dioramas and placing the animals in a simulated habitat will be told. You will even be able to create your own diorama setting within the exhibit space.

Last but not least, the exhibit will feature animal mounts created by local award-winning taxidermists. You will be able to see how some tools of the trade have evolved to make the mounts more creative, while other tools have not changed much over the last century.

Mount It! The Art of Taxidermy, sponsored by Yellow Book, will be on exhibit from May 31 through October 25, 2009 in the East Gallery of the Hastings Museum.

Location: Main Level