Support Special Initiatives

Taxidermy restoration was identified as a “High Priority and Urgent” recommendation in the grant-funded 2021 Collections Assessment for Preservation project. In response, the Museum is now fundraising to engage conservator Terry Brown to restore two important taxidermy dioramas and to train the staff on doing its own care for the remaining specimens. Besides decades of dirt, historic taxidermy frequently contains arsenic, pesticides, and heavy metals that can pose a health threat to staff and visitors — and therefore calls for a specialist. The pre-1920 boxing squirrel diorama and the 1917 Beetown golden eagle were selected for restoring and encasing in vitrines. Help support this important initiative!