Natural History at the Milwaukee Public Museum circa 1920

 The end of the 19^th century saw an explosion of Natural History Museums across America.  Among the most famous are the American Museum of Natural History in New York (which is still attracting an unusually-large number of visitors based on a popular movie about the museum of two years ago), the Field Museum in Chicago, and the Natural History Museum of the Smithsonian Institute, 

But, these famous museums were not unusual; many cities boasted collections of natural wonders and panoramic displays of wild animals. 

Many things contributed to this spectacular development: the long history of exhibiting specimens and "wonders" that enterprising amateurs collected, the first generations of Americans who had access to public education, a growing middle class, wild, ungoverned territories where animals could be hunted or poached freely,  and the accumulation of spectacular industrial fortunes that made possible these public endowments.

The Milwaukee Public Museum began its life as a private German literary society (the great library consisted originally, of German-language texts) and cultural club that became an educational institution for the entire city. 

By the end of the 19th Century, the Museum and the Library became seperate institutions, and the wildlife exhibitions were assembled.

Milwaukee Public Museum

Fascinating history of the Milwaukee Public Museum on Wikipedia 


 Natural Wildlife Exhibits - Examples from Milwaukee

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Elk or Wapiti
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Mountain Goat

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California Sea Lion

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Mountain Sheep

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Muskrats

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