Deep within the Field Museum in Chicago, there’s a fascinating mystery about a diorama that has been missing for 87 years. It’s said to be hidden behind a wall in the Asian Hall of Mammals. But where could it be?
After some searching, the missing diorama space was found! However, something was strange. There was no painted mural, no carefully crafted habitat, and no taxidermied animals. What happened?
Back in the 1920s, the museum started building dioramas in the Asian Hall of Mammals, planning for a total of twenty. But when the Great Depression hit, money ran out, and only nineteen were finished. The last one was boarded up and left alone for many years.
Now, there’s an empty diorama space and some hyenas without a home. This seems like the perfect chance for a new project! The Field Museum is inviting people to help restore this diorama and give a home to the Akeley hyenas.
The project will cost $170,000, and the museum needs support. Museums everywhere are looking for ways to connect with people beyond their local visitors. Your help will ensure that future generations can enjoy and learn from this diorama.
Since Akeley’s expedition over a century ago, many species, like the striped hyena, have seen their numbers drop. If these animals disappear, museums will be key to studying them. Dioramas act as historical records, showing us how ecosystems and species interacted in the past. They also help us connect with nature, reminding us that we’re part of the natural world.
Carl Akeley was a pioneer in combining art and science in taxidermy, and his work still influences how we see nature today. Museums are crucial for preserving our history, especially as we face habitat loss like never before.
The museum needs your help to take care of its collections. You can support this project by checking out their Indiegogo campaign. Let’s work together to make sure these amazing dioramas continue to educate and inspire!
The Brain Scoop is brought to you by The Field Museum in Chicago.
Imagine you are part of the team restoring the missing diorama. Design and build a small-scale diorama using materials like cardboard, clay, and paint. Think about the habitat of the striped hyenas and include elements that would make them feel at home. Share your creation with the class and explain your choices.
Choose one member of the team working on the diorama restoration and research their role in the project. Prepare a short presentation for the class, explaining what this person does and why their contribution is important. Use visuals to make your presentation more engaging.
Write a short story about the mystery of the missing diorama. Use your imagination to describe what might have happened to it over the years. Include characters from the museum team and create an exciting plot that leads to the discovery of the diorama space.
Research the history of dioramas and their importance in museums. Create a timeline that highlights key developments in diorama creation, including Carl Akeley’s contributions. Present your timeline to the class and discuss how dioramas have evolved over time.
Imagine you are tasked with raising funds for the diorama project. Design a creative campaign poster or video that encourages people to support the museum’s Indiegogo campaign. Highlight the importance of preserving history and connecting with nature through dioramas.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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Somewhere deep in the halls of the Field Museum in Chicago, there’s a diorama that has been missing for eighty-seven years. Legend has it that it’s hidden behind a wall in the Asian Hall of Mammals. But where could it be?
After some exploration, we discover the missing diorama space! However, something seems off. Where’s the painted mural? Where’s the carefully crafted habitat? And where are all the taxidermied animals?
In the 1920s, construction began on the dioramas in the Asian Hall of Mammals, with plans for twenty in total. Unfortunately, due to the Great Depression, funding ran out, and only nineteen dioramas were completed. The last one was boarded up and left untouched for decades.
Now, we have an empty diorama space and some orphaned hyenas. It seems like a perfect opportunity for a project!
In a unique initiative, the Field Museum invites you to be part of history by helping restore this diorama and provide a home for the Akeley hyenas. A dedicated team of scientists, conservators, builders, artists, and exhibitors is ready to take on this challenge.
Meet the team:
– Michael Paha, who will be moving and setting up the display.
– Sarah Crawford, an exhibit developer, who will gather stories about the hyenas.
– Bill Stanley, the director of the Gans Family Collection Center, who will advise on the natural habitat of striped hyenas.
– Shelley Paine, the exhibitions conservator, who will examine and repair the hyenas.
– Susan Phillips, the production manager, who will oversee the project and create elements for the diorama.
– Aaron Delehanty, who will paint the mural.
The total cost for this project is $170,000, and we need your support. Natural history museums worldwide are seeking ways to connect with audiences beyond their local communities. Your contributions will help ensure that future generations can enjoy and learn from this diorama.
Why is this project important now? Since Akeley’s initial expedition over a century ago, many species, including the striped hyena, have seen their populations decline significantly. If these animals disappear, museums will be crucial for studying them.
Dioramas serve as historical records, providing insights into ecosystems and species interactions from the past. They also foster connections between humans and nature, reminding us that we are part of the natural world.
Carl Akeley was instrumental in merging art and science in taxidermy, and his legacy continues to influence how we engage with nature. Museums play a vital role in preserving our history, especially as we face unprecedented habitat loss.
We have a responsibility to care for our collections, but we can’t do it without your help. Check out our Indiegogo campaign to support this project.
The Brain Scoop is brought to you by The Field Museum in Chicago.
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This version removes any informal language, unnecessary exclamations, and maintains a professional tone while preserving the essential information.
Diorama – A three-dimensional miniature or life-size scene in which figures, stuffed wildlife, or other objects are arranged in a naturalistic setting against a painted background. – The science class created a diorama of a rainforest to show the different layers of vegetation and animal life.
Museum – A building or institution dedicated to the acquisition, conservation, study, exhibition, and educational interpretation of objects having scientific, historical, or artistic value. – During the field trip, the students visited the science museum to learn about the history of space exploration.
Hyenas – Mammals of the family Hyaenidae, known for their scavenging habits and distinctive laughter-like vocalizations, often studied in biology for their social behavior. – The documentary on wildlife showed how hyenas play a crucial role in the ecosystem by cleaning up carrion.
Project – A planned undertaking or assignment that involves research and design, often used in educational settings to explore scientific or artistic concepts. – For her science project, Maria built a model volcano to demonstrate how eruptions occur.
Habitat – The natural environment in which a particular species of plant or animal lives, which provides the necessary conditions for its survival. – The students learned about the polar bear’s habitat and how climate change is affecting its survival.
Species – A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding, often studied in biology to understand biodiversity. – Scientists discovered a new species of frog in the Amazon rainforest, highlighting the area’s rich biodiversity.
Nature – The phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth, as opposed to humans or human creations. – The art class took a trip to the park to sketch scenes from nature, capturing the beauty of trees and wildlife.
Art – The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power. – In art class, students learned how to use different techniques to create a landscape painting.
Science – The systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. – The science fair showcased projects that explored various scientific principles, from physics to biology.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, often explored through artifacts, documents, and other sources to understand how societies have evolved. – The history lesson focused on the scientific advancements of the Renaissance period and their impact on modern technology.
