Travelers in the U.S. are getting a chance to see a unique collection of taxidermied animals from the Delbridge Museum of Natural History. This museum, located at the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, closed in August 2023 due to safety concerns. An investigation revealed “potentially hazardous” levels of arsenic in 80% of its specimens.
The museum’s Brockhouse Collection features 152 taxidermied animals, with some dating back to the 1940s. It includes a diverse array of animals like monkeys, crocodiles, zebras, and tigers. The collection was once considered one of the Midwest’s most extensive of its kind.
After the museum’s closure, Sioux Falls city leaders decided to donate the entire collection rather than dispose of it. On February 11, 2025, the Sioux Falls City Council unanimously agreed to send most of the collection—117 specimens— to the University of Notre Dame Museum of Biodiversity in Indiana. Additionally, 33 animals will go to the Oddities Museum in Atlanta, Georgia, and two will be sent to the Institute for Natural History Arts in Woodland Park, New Jersey.
Don Kearney, the Sioux Falls director of parks and recreation, emphasized that this decision ensures the animals will be preserved and displayed by reputable institutions. He stated, “This move ensures that none of the collection will be disposed of, and all items will be put to good use by reputable natural history institutions.”
Taxidermy practices have changed over the decades. Up until the 1980s, substances like arsenic were commonly used in the preservation process. Concern grew as the collection began to age, raising the risk of potential contact with harmful chemicals for visitors. Despite signs and barriers designed to protect the displays, staff often caught people breaching these restrictions.
Once the collection finds its new homes, the recipient institutions will take special measures to ensure public safety. The animals are likely to be displayed behind glass to prevent any physical contact. Denise DePaolo, the Great Plains Zoo’s marketing director, mentioned that the new institutions have the expertise and resources necessary for the care and exhibition of the taxidermied specimens.
City council members expressed sadness over losing this part of Sioux Falls’ history. Council member Curt Soehl shared his disappointment, stating, “There is no path forward to keep it in Sioux Falls. It’s going to be sad for me to let that go.” His colleague, Miranda Basye, echoed these sentiments, reflecting on the collection’s significance to the community while recognizing that it will be well cared for in its new locations.
Though the closure of the Delbridge Museum was unfortunate, the legacy of the Brockhouse Collection will continue, allowing people to appreciate these remarkable specimens in a safer environment.
