Travelers across the US can see some of the unique collections after the museum where they were on display was forced to close.
The Delbridge Natural History Museum, located at the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, closed in August 2023. It was found that “potentially dangerous” levels of arsenic are present in 80% of specimens in the Blockhouse collection of taxidermy animals at the Museum Blockhouse. .
“From a wealth of attention, city leaders at Sioux Falls and Great Plains Zoo have agreed to close the museum, but they can make decisions about the future of animals,” the Delbridge Museum of Natural History previously stated. I’ve said that. Statement regarding the closure of the museum.
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The Blockhouse collection consists of 152 taxidermy animals and dates back to the 1940s, the Associated Press reported. The collection included taxidermy monkeys, crocodiles, zebras and tigers.
The Blockhouse Collection was “one of the Midwest’s most comprehensive taxidermy collections,” the museum said in an August 2023 statement.
This photo of the Great Plains Zoo in February 2025 shows taxidermy animals from the Blockhouse Collection at the Delbridge Museum of Natural History in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Animals move to three locations across the United States. (Great Plains Zoo via AP)
Sioux Falls City Council unanimously approved the resolution on February 11th, donating the collection to several institutions around the United States.
The majority of the collection (117 specimens) will be donated to the University of Notre Dame, the University of Biodiversity in Indiana, the resolution states.
Another 33 will be donated to the Oddity Museum in Atlanta, Georgia, and two will be donated to the Institute for Natural History and Arts in Woodland Park, New Jersey.
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The move “ensures that none of the collections are disposed of and all items are effectively utilized by reputable natural history institutions,” said Don Kearney, Parks and Recreation Director of Sioux Falls, to the council. He spoke.
Until the 1980s, the use of “strong chemicals” in the taxidermy process was common, the museum said. This included both arsenic and asbestos.
Until the 1980s, it was common to use “strong chemicals” in taxidermy containing arsenic. (Keystone View Company/FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images)
The museum states, “To protect visitors safety and specimens from more rapid degradation, we have set up “untouched” signs since the establishment of the museum, since the museum’s establishment.” said the museum. .
However, by 2023, the decision was made that it was no longer safe for the public to see the collection.
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“As specimens age and naturally break down over time, there may be more opportunities for humans to come into contact with potentially harmful chemicals,” the August 2023 statement said. “Although most guests respect museum rules, zoo staff regularly catch individuals who are touching the mount by violating barriers.”
Their new homes will have special precautions in place for safe, public viewing.
Sioux Falls City Council has approved a unanimous resolution to re-home a special collection. (Educational Images/Universal Image Group via Getty Images)
Dennis DePaolo, marketing director for Great Plains Zoo, said the receiving facility is ready to display taxidermy animals.
Mount recipients display animals that cannot be touched behind the glass, and have experts and equipment for taxidermy, DePaolo told the Associated Press.
“A good place for it will be going to be caring for it along with these other institutions.”
Sioux Falls City Council members expressed disappointment that the city’s taxidermy collection could not stay.
“There’s no way in Sioux Falls to keep it up. It’s painful to say that. It’s sad to let it go,” said Councillor Kurt Sue.
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“There’s as much memory and legacy as I think I’m really wrapped in this collection, and the story that it’s in Sioux Falls is that the right place for it is with these other institutions that care about it. I think so, another council member, Miranda Basie, added.
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The gift agreement states that recipients will leave the animals as they are and that the mount belongs to them forever, City Attorney Dave Faiful said.
The Associated Press contributed to the reporting.
