In a significant move following health concerns, a wide array of taxidermied animals, including crocodiles, monkeys, tigers, and zebras, will find new homes after the shutdown of the Delbridge Museum of Natural History in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This closure, initiated in August 2023, was prompted by alarming findings that approximately 80% of the specimens in the Brockhouse Collection contained potentially dangerous levels of arsenic.
The closure of the museum raised fears about the fate of the collection, which features 152 specimens, some of which have been on display since as early as the 1940s. However, in a recent resolution approved unanimously by the Sioux Falls City Council, a new future for these specimens has been established. The resolution facilitates the donation of 117 mounts to the University of Notre Dame Museum of Biodiversity, 33 to the Oddities Museum Inc. in Atlanta, and two to the Institute for Natural History Arts Inc. located in New Jersey.
Don Kearney, the Sioux Falls Director of Parks & Recreation, expressed that this decision ensures that the collection will not be lost or discarded but rather utilized by esteemed natural history institutions. “This process guarantees that each of these items will receive appropriate care and utilization,” he emphasized in council discussions.
While the presence of arsenic presents certain display challenges, it does not entirely preclude showcasing the animals, as noted by Denise DePaolo, the zoo’s marketing director. She explained that the museum lacked proper safety barriers to prevent visitor interaction with the specimens, creating a liability issue. The institutions receiving the mounts are expected to display them in secure environments, likely behind glass barriers, and possess the expertise and equipment necessary for the maintenance of these delicate pieces of history.
The collection originally belonged to Sioux Falls businessman and hunter Henry Brockhouse, who showcased the animals in his hardware store until his passing in 1978. Subsequently, the collection was donated to the city and displayed at the museum for almost four decades. Following the discovery of arsenic, the museum’s operations ceased, and city officials worked toward finding a solution for the collection’s future, which included advocating for state legislation last year to facilitate the transition.
Local residents expressed disappointment over the loss of this unique collection from their community. City Council Member Curt Soehl lamented, “There is no path forward to keep it in Sioux Falls. It pains me to say that. It will be sad for me to see it go.” Another council member, Miranda Basye, noted the sentimental value and legacy tied to the collection, stating, “Given the history and memory behind this compilation, I believe the right decision is to entrust it to these institutions that will cherish and preserve it for future generations.”
According to city attorney Dave Pfeifle, the agreements for gifting the taxidermied mounts ensure that recipients will accept the specimens in their current condition and that the ownership will be irrevocably transferred to them. The future of these significant historical artifacts, now secure within established institutions, remains hopeful, as they will be preserved and appreciated for years to come.
