Have you ever heard of Frankenmoose? And no surprisingly he's not an urban legend, he's real (well kinda)!
I have worked at the
Academy of Natural Sciences here in Philadelphia for quite a while so over time I've picked up many facts about this strange museum. A museum that just so happens to be the oldest natural science institution in the new world!
For one thing, many of the amazing taxidermy in the dioramas are filled with a form of arsenic. This was done during the early 20th Century- at the time this was a popular way to ensure the longevity of the animal's fur and was an institutional norm. Nowadays its a strange oddity and a good way to get small children to stop banging on the glass. I mean, nothing stops misbehavior like the threat of poison. :)
Anyway, the moose (pictured above) is the king of the North American Hall and center of the exhibit. But during the 1930, when the diorama was being built, the moose that was shot in Alaska and brought to the Museum was not quite impressive enough for a few of the board members (He was a large moose with teeny weeny antlers). Well a museum as important as the Academy couldn't have tiny moose antlers! Especially, when a bit of a competition had broken out between the Museum and New York's American Museum of Natural History. Subsequently, another hunt party was sent out and ultimately they ended up with a smaller moose who was well endowed with "large antlers". Later, the 2nd Moose's antlers were placed on the first one bring us the beloved Frankenmoose!
Above is one of my photographs of the Frankenmoose. The kids I taught over the summer at the museum adored this story and it just adds to the many amazing things to be discovered while hanging out in this awesome museum (can you tell I love this place) :D
