Page 8 University Daily Kansan, August 18; 1983 120,000 people visit Museum of Natural History each year Steve Zuk/KANSAN This stone elephant on Dyche Hall may be the most concrete example of an actual rock-chalk. dy MATTHEW HARRISON Staff Reporter The Museum of Natural History at the university of Kansas has a history of scientific research. "In national and international terms, we're among the best," said Philip S. Lewis. "This is a world-class natural history museum by any standards and one of the best in the world." A STUDY INITIATED by the Kansas Economic Development Commission in 1978 said that the museum was the No.1 tourist attraction in the state. When the University was established in 1866, one of the first items the Kansas Legislature authorized the Regents to establish was a "Cabinet of Natural History," said Cathy Dwigans, associate director of exhibits for the museum. One of the University's original instructors, Francis Snow, professor of mathematics, was asked to head the project. Dwigans said. In 1888 the collection, which was on display in Fraser Hall, was moved in old Snow Hall. In 1877, Lewis Lindsay Dyce, came to the University, pitched a tent on the site where Dyce Hall now stands and started teaching natural history. AFTER RECEIVING HIS MASTER'S degree from the University in 1888, Dyche was appointed professor of anatomy and physiology. He also served as a biomertist and curator of animals, birds and fishes exhibits at the museum. In 1891 Dyche and five assistants prepared a natural history exhibit representing the state of Kansas for the kidnapping of the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The exhibit brought press comment from all over the United States. A Chicago visitor wrote to the Topeka Capitol, "By reading in the Chicago papers the past two weeks a person would almost be made to believe that there was but one state building in the World's Fair grounds, and that was the Kansas building. "In fact, it has received so much notoriety that 'Kansas' has become the counting room and table talk of the city". The specimens were returned to KU in 1901 after the Legislature approved a new building to house the large collection. DURING HIS CAREER Dyche participated in more than 20 naturalistic expeditions on the North American continent. He was a naturalist on the relief ship "Kite," which rescued Lieutenant Robert E. Peary when one of his attempts to reach the North Pole failed. He died of heart disease in Topeka in 1915 at the age of 58 and his funeral was held on the rotunda of the Museum of Natural History at KU. Dyche's collection is now the basis for the North American Plants and Animals Panorama, which can be entered directly from Jayhawk Boulevard. It is one of the largest of its kind in the world. Dwigans said. DYCHIE HALL IS ONE of only three buildings on campus that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The building was designed by Dyche and the main entrance is modelled upon the Trophine Cathedral in Arles, France. According to Dwigans, the building's exterior is rough hewn limestone quarried near Lawrence and the elaborate stone sculptures found on the outside were done by Italian stone- man Roberto Baldo Frazae and his sen Virvayrus. Dwigans said that the animal figure on the east side of the building is said to be the first representation of the Kansas Jayhawk. The figure was carved by two students under the direction of Frazee. The structure was named Dyche Hall in 1915 and in 1890 additions were added on the north side for the expanding entomology and botany collections. THE FOYER FLOOR of the museum is of particular interest having been designed by a KU student. In 1937 Myra E. Wildish Rising was commissioned to do a montage of ancient and modern animals for the floor. The statue "Victory Eagle" was added to the museum's front lawn in 1935. Dwigsans said that every year more than 120,000 people visited the museum and that more than 20,000 people visited in its educational programs. HUMPHREY, WHO CAME to the University 15 years ago after being a curator at Yale University and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, is especially proud of the publications that the museum has published about Kansas wildlife. "We really are two museums," Humpreys said. "There's the inner museum, which houses the threequarters to 1 million specimens, and the outer museum, which acts as a translational device to communicate to the public the knowledge held in the museum." The publications are sold around the state and are "technically correct books written in lay language," he said. A trip through the museum's exhibits is like taking a trip through world history. Some of the more interesting exhibits in the museum are: - A brontosaurus hip bone more than 5 feet long collected by a KU field party in 1895 at Como Bluff, Wyo. - A live, working honeybee exhibit. - Fossil and mineral exhibits, including a reconstruction of a tar pit, fluorescent minerals, fossil masaurs from Kansas, a sabar-toothed cat and mastodons. - Commanche, the sole surviving creature of the Battle of Little Big Horn, fought on 15 July, 1876. Dyche used the turmic work on the U.S. calfary horse. - Live fishes and snakes including a copperhead — the only venomous snake found in Kansas. Natural history workshops take place on weekends during the school year and are led by Ruth Gennrich, director of public education for the museum. The workshops are mostly for 5 to 7-year-old children but are open to the public, Gennrich said. "We look at the Natural History Steve Zuk/KANSAN This dog-like figure on the east side of Dyche Hall is said to be the first representation of the mythical Kansas Jayhawk. Museum as a special window the public has on the University," Humphreys said. "One past chancellor said that more people visit the University's museums in a given year than attend the football games." The museum is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday It is closed July 4th. Tuesday to Saturday and New Year's Day. Admission is always free. 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Air-conditioned beach 4 pool tables Foosball & hockey Oldies jukebox 841-BREW Our outdoor beer garden is the talk of the town Featuring: Naturally Great Foods Beer, Wine & Cocktails Daily Luncheon Specials Daily Drink Specials Pick up your Free Calendar of Events FREE SALAD BAR with Dinner Entree (Bring in this ad for Salad Bar Special. Expires Sept. 30, 1983) WEDNESDAY LADIES NIGHT 10-Midnight Free Draws & 50t Bar Drinks MONDAY PITCHER NIGHT $1 Pitchers 10-Midnight 815 New Hampshire BAR & RESTAURANT YOUR TICKET TO FUN AND ENTERTAINMENT Exclusive Nightly Named Drink Specials 50's and 60's Jukebox D. J. Nightly Playing Current Hits BARRON'S Food Hours Sun-Thurs 4:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Fri & Sat 12:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Underneath the Eldridge House Memberships Available The Private Club Bar Hours Bat Yourself Sun-Tues 4:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. (depending on crowd) Wed & Thurs 4:00 p.m.-3:00 a.m. Fri & Sat 12:00 p.m.-3:00 a.m. 7th & Mass. Lawrence, KS 913-749-9758 ---