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Our History & Our Mission
OUR MISSION
The Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History is dedicated to fostering a greater understanding of our natural world through education, conservation, recreation and discovery.
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE GREAT PLAINS ZOO
As an accredited member of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association the Great Plains Zoo strives to fulfill four major objectives: Education, Conservation, Recreation and Discovery.
The initial Zoo in Sioux Falls was developed in the 1880’s by Senator Richard F. Pettigrew who housed a few specimens of animals for viewing in the local parks around Sioux Falls, with the largest group being housed at McKennan Park. In 1930, the Sioux Falls Parks systems assumed responsibility for zoo development and added additional specimens for permanent display in Sherman Park, just south of the zoo’s present location.
In 1957, the Zoological Society of Sioux Falls (ZSSF) was established as a non-profit corporation by a group of zoo supporters and organized by Howard Chernoff, associate publisher of the Sioux Falls newspaper The Argus Leader. Its goal was to develop and implement plans for a modern 32-acre zoo to be operated by the Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation Department, with the ZSSF serving in an advisory and supportive capacity. The ZSSF, the Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation Department and several zoological consultants worked together for 3 years to design a new zoo and raise funds for construction. The Great Plains Zoo opened June 30, 1963 to provide education and recreation for the community.
The Great Plains Zoo continued growing and in 1984 the Delbridge Museum of Natural History opened. In 1985, the operation of the Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History (GPZDM) was assumed by the ZSSF and the City retaining ownership of the buildings and grounds. The change was based on the belief that private sector funding would increase if the City was not solely funding the zoo and museum, and the ZSSF would be better qualified to provide the necessary expertise to operate and manage a modern Zoological Park and Museum of Natural History.
In 1991 the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) accredited the GPZDM. The zoo has grown to a collection of nearly 400 live animals from around the world representing approximately 100 different species exhibited in natural habitats emphasizing conservation and education. The zoo has continued to renovate several of the older exhibits and created new larger “habitats” for the animals including: the Asian Cat Habitat, Wild Dogs of America, the Flamingo exhibit, African Black-footed Penguin Rookery, the Australian Outback, the Primate Complex, North American Plains exhibit, and Bear Canyon.
A recently annexed portion of Sherman Park has increased the size of the grounds to 45 acres. Future development of the expansion property on the south side of the zoo and a new master plan concept has been approved by the ZSSF Board of Directors, the Sioux Falls Park and Recreation Board, and the Sioux Falls City Council.
HISTORY OF THE DELBRIDGE MUSUEM
The mounted animal collection in the Delbridge Museum of Natural History has a very interesting origin. The majority of the animals in the collection belonged to Henry Brockhouse, a Sioux Falls businessman who hunted extensively in the 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s. Over the years, Brockhouse developed one of the largest private collections of mounted animals in the world. He displayed part of his collection in his hardware store for many years.
In 1978, Brockhouse passed away, years later his hardware store was closed and the animal collection put up for sale. In 1981 the CJ Delbridge family purchased the collection as a whole and donated it to the City of Sioux Falls on the condition that a proper building be constructed in which to house the collection. It was decided that the Delbridge Museum of Natural History would become part of the Great Plains Zoo to enhance the recreational and educational value of both facilities.
The collection was kept in storage until 1984, during which time the remaining unfinished specimens were completed, including the African elephant and reticulated giraffe. The museum building itself was also designed and constructed during the three years the mounts were in storage. The Delbridge Museum of Natural History opened its doors to the public in November of 1984.
All of the museum’s specimens were legally hunted and collected by Henry Brockhouse, today, 20 of the specimens are now on the endangered species list. Illegal hunting, habitat destruction and other factors are bringing many species to the brink of extinction. The animals in the museum died long ago, but perhaps they can prompt us to work harder to protect their living relatives. The museum’s mounted animal collection is an invaluable educational tool that complements the live animal collection outside in the zoo.
Approximately 150 mounts are currently on display in the museum; they are portrayed in naturalistic surroundings called dioramas, which are grouped both geographically and by habitat. In a diorama very little is real, a great deal of work goes into making grass, dirt, rocks, trees and other objects look real. The habitats recreated represent the type of environment the animals lived in, including desert, grasslands and tropical forests. The majority of the mounts are representatives of species from Africa, North America and Asia.
Information and graphics placed throughout the museum focus on how different animals adapt to their environments and what their current status is in the wild. Displaying the mounts in this way helps to better convey a realistic image of the natural surroundings in which different animals are found and highlight the role each species plays in its’ habitat.
MUSEUM TAXIDERMY
Joe Jonas of Bloomfield, Colorado was the best taxidermist at the time and did almost all of the mounts. The company later changed its name to Jonas Brothers Taxidermy – their gold and black circular marks can be see at the base of many of the mounts.
Last Update:Friday, April 08, 2005 at 13:15:00
