Libyan Desert Diorama

[Deleted member 43267]

An interesting article from Atlas Obscura

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places...EXF32FbIEYoWezT3kgMqiwUYLeprZoCXujF3VJmvgVWBI

It is about one of the Dioramas in the NY Museum of Natural History.

Jeff

 

[Ridgewalker]

The museum of natural history is an outstanding place to visit!

 

[CAustin]

Need to go see this someday

 

[Deleted member 43267]

There was another recent post by Atlas Obscura about the Okapi diorama, and how one of the artists placed a North American chipmunk in it as a joke. The entire thing was largely the work of Carl Akeley.

Another good read about how Carl Akeley revolutionized taxidermy to make the animals lifelike is "Kingdom Under Glass" by Jay Kirk. Before Akeley, taxidermy was largely about horrible caricatures, and he found the secret to making them come alive. He was the force behind the hall of mammals and although it was built in the early 1900's it remains vibrant and a visitor favorite to this day. You can google Akeley Hall of African Mammals and see photos of some dioramas, although they are worth the trip to see them in person. To me, the cool part are the backgrounds that blend so seamlessly that you can't tell where the exhibit ends and the background begins.