Taxidermists spent two years preparing 274 specimens. Some historic specimens, like the white rhino that former President Theodore Roosevelt donated in 1909, needed significant repairs.
Nearly 90 percent of the specimens were new—donated by zoos and research facilities from around the world.
Among the extraordinarily lifelike mounts, the ocelot and hyrax have won national awards.
PHOTO CREDITS
Carl Hansen
Paul Rhymer
Heather Rostker
Click on the photos to the left to view an enlarged version.
© 2006 Smithsonian Institution
