Tuesday, July 15, 1958
Summer Session Kansan
Page 5
PLAYING KING OF THE MOUNTAIN?—No, these mountain goats are part of the panorama in the Museum of Natural History which shows
the animals from various parts of the world in their natural surroundings. (Summer Kansan photo by Ron Miller)
LOOK MA!—Representing the animals which once roamed this state in large herds are these three buffalo. (Summer Kansan photo by Ron Miller)
Animals From 1893 Fair Exhibited
You may not be able to attend the present World's Fair in Brussels, but if you would like to see an example of an exhibit at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 visit the panorama of North American mammals in the Museum of Natural History.
Most of the larger animals in the panorama were collected and prepared by the late Prof. Lewis L. Dyche for exhibit at the Chicago World's Fair.
In 1952 the display was again remodeled. New background paintings by Samuel T. Dickinson, now retired but formerly of the museum staff, were added. The previously
Following their exhibit at the Chicago fair, the animals were returned to KU. The present museum building, completed in 1901, was built to house the collection and display it to better advantage.
uncompleted exhibit of animals and plants of the tropical life zone were added to the panorama.
Located on the main floor of the museum, just inside the main entrance, the panorama is a careful reproduction of the animals and plants that would be seen in a south to north trip across the North American continent. Divided into eight "life zones" according to the geographic location of the animals' habitats, the display represents the extremes of the equatorial animals and plants and the mammalian life of the polar region.
"So far as is known, the Dyche panorama is the largest and the best of its kind in the world," said George P. Young, museum taxidermist.
Some of the work in the panorama has been done by students, working either as employees of the museum or for credit in a class in museum technique.
WHEN YOU HAVE TO SCRATCH—Here is one of the deer in the panorama in the life-like position of rubbing against a tree. (Summer Kansan photo by Ron Miller)
Examples of the reproduction of native plant life are numerous. Some of the trees in the display are handmade with the exception of the outer bark. Thousands of plastic leaves were cast by hand and attached to the limbs.
Other plants shown were at one time living specimens. The large plot of buffalo grass sod included in the depiction of the plains area was dug in western Kansas and then installed on the top floor of the panorama.
The panorama is not yet fully completed. Some small animals will be replaced and others will be added in the future. Permanent labeling of the animals shown also must be done before the exhibit will be complete.
The autumn season is used as a common denominator throughout the display. In order to be consistent, new animals must be prepared for
exhibit in their fall colorings. The animals needed to complete the panorama will be collected this fall and mounted in their proper positions sometime during the winter.
Bedford Writes Article
Jimmy Bedford, former instructor of journalism, whose an article which appeared in Sunday's Kansas City Star, Mr. Bedford is in London on the first stop on his way around the world.
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