Simplified: A collection of about 150 taxidermy specimen known as the Brockhouse Collection – previously on display at the Delbridge Museum on the Great Plains Zoo campus – is one step closer to finding a new home after a city work group discussion earlier this week.

Why it matters

  • A city work group tasked with finding a home for the specimen received interest from six different nonprofit organizations, who said they'd like to restore some or all of the pieces.
  • Of those organizations, the one work group members said they'd most like to see receive the collection is the University of Notre Dame Museum of Biodiversity.
  • Notre Dame only wants 117 of the specimen, though – namely the ones in well-enough condition to restore. It's possible the rest could be split between other interested parties, including The Oddities Museum in Atlanta, Georgia.
"Right away, it just gives credibility," work group member Jeff Scherschligt said of Notre Dame, noting that it's also feasible Sioux Falls fans of the collection would be able to take a trip to visit it.

How did we get here?

Late last summer, the zoo decided to close the Delbridge Museum to the general public after arsenic was found in more than 70% of the specimen on display. Soon after, the city and zoo announced together that the specimen would be destroyed.

There was strong public backlash to this announcement – enough to compel the city to form a task force to look at other possible options to salvage the collection by donating it to another nonprofit.

  • The discussion made it all the way to Pierre, where state lawmakers changed state law in order to make it possible for the zoo to donate the collection out-of-state.

Then, after the new law took effect in July, the work group gave an opportunity to nonprofits to express interest in the collection. Ultimately, six groups expressed interest in at least some of the specimen. Those include:

  • The University of Notre Dame Museum of Biodiversity in Indiana, which wants 117 specimen,
  • The Oddities Museum in Atlanta, Georgia, which wants the entire collection
  • The Grand Rapids Public Museum in Michigan, which wants 13 items,
  • The Institute for Natural History Arts, Inc., which wants 28 items
  • Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, which wants 9 items,
  • and the Coburn Grand Resort is interested in the entire collection, but does not yet have an official nonprofit status.

What happens next?

The work group in January will see a draft of a resolution to give Notre Dame the 117, and the remainder to, likely, the Oddities Museum (with perhaps a few pieces going to the Institute for Natural History Arts.)

The draft resolution is expected to be made available to the public by Jan. 10.

  • Opportunities for public input will include the Jan. 17 city work group meeting, as well as during City Council meetings in (likely) February to vote on the resolution approved by the work group.