The Museum Hall 



©tj^n ... 



The evolution in the appearance of museum 

 halls seems unutterably slow, yet when changes 

 are made they are frequently quite dramatic. 



In its infancy. Field Museum (then Field Co- 

 lumbian Museum) had to rely on some artifical 

 animal displays which lacked realism both in them- 

 selves and their exhibition. This was true of most 

 museums before the development of modern tech- 

 niques made possible the life-like exhibits now 

 available. 



By the time the Museum moved to its present 

 location in 1 921 , it had the superb animal displays 

 by Carl Akeley and an impressive classic main 

 hall in which to display a variety of its most pop- 

 ular and importa^nt exhibits. 



Since 1 921 , some additions and changes have 

 been made in the hall, such as the addition of the 

 rampant dinosaur in the 1950's, but the general 

 layout of Stanley Field Hall remained unchanged. 



Field Columbian Museum hall in Jackson Park in 189U featured reproduction 

 of a mammoth, cross-section of a redwood tree and a mastodon skeleton. By 

 today's standards the arrangement of exhibits was stilted and unimaginative 

 but it was typical for its time. 



Above: This mammoth was one of several animal "mock-ups" 

 on display when the Museum first opened. Notice affixed to the 

 creature's trunk warns visitors to keep "Hands Off." Right: 

 Stanley Field Hall appeared like this prior to recent renovation. 

 The rampant dinosaur was added in the early 1950's but there 

 have been few changes in the hall since the present building was 

 opened in 1 921 . 



Page 14 DECEMBER 



