1936 - present
The conception of the Akeley Hall of African Mammals was ambitious and innovative for its time. Carl Akeley, explorer, naturalist, taxidermist, inventor, and sculptor, led three expeditions to Africa for the American Museum of Natural History. It was his life’s mission to preserve the wild mammal life of Africa, which even in his time was fast-disappearing (4, 1984, p. 32).
After returning from Africa in 1911, Akeley dreamed of a new African Hall, which was to be the “inspiration and unifying purpose of [his] work” from then on. He wrote that the new hall would serve to “tell the story of jungle peace; a story that is sincere and faithful to the Africa beasts as I have known them" (4, 1993, p. 19). His plans were for a darkened hall, simple and spacious, with artificially illuminated diorama habitat groups. This way, the worlds in the dioramas dominated instead of the exhibition cases.
Akeley, in addition to being an explorer, naturalist, and inventor, was a skilled sculptor and taxidermist. He pioneered the mounting technique used for specimens in the hall. James L. Clark assisted Akeley in sculpture and mounting for the hall and took over after Akeley’s death in 1926. Akeley also collected many of the specimens he later mounted during his expeditions to Africa (2, 1926, p. 36-37).
From conception to completion, the process of creating the Hall of African Mammals took over thirty years. Akeley first published his plans in 1914, but exploration and collection for the hall itself was delayed during the invasion of Belgium and periodic lack of funds. (2, 1924, p. 12-13; 2, 1925, p. 20) The African Elephant group, which dominates the center of the Hall, opened to the public in 1921 (2, 1921, p. 31) and the hall officially opened to the public on May 19, 1936. It was partially completed at this time, with sketches of future habitat groups displayed in sketch models (2, 1936, p. 3; 3, 1936, Appendix). By the end of that year, fourteen groups remained to be completed. As of 1939, the third floor was under construction and an expedition to Africa was made to collect materials for more animal groups (2, 1939, p. 5). It was finally completed by 1942 (2, 1942, p. 12).
Placed above the dioramas are silvered bronze relief sculptures with related scenes by John W. Hope. Two sculptures by Malvina Hoffman once stood at the entrance to the hall and at the opposite, a large pair of elephant tusks were installed, which remain as of 2017 (2, 1935, p. 14-15; 3, 1949, p. 102; 17).
The habitat groups on the lower (second) floor are as follows:
Water Hole Group
Mountain Nyala Group
African Buffalo Group
the Lion Group
Bongo Group
Giant Eland Group
Upper Nile Group
Plains Group
Greater Koodoo Group
Giant Sable Group
Gemsbok Group
Libyan Desert Group
Okapi Group
Gorilla Group
The habitat groups on the third floor mezzanine or Akeley African Hall Gallery are as follows:
Klipspringer Group
Lesser Koodoo Group
White Rhinoceros Group
Black Rhinoceros Group
Hunting Dog Group
South African Group
Ostrich Group
Leopard and Bush Pig Group
Colobus Monkey Group
Chimpanzee Group
Mandrill Group
Impala Group
Hyena-Jackal-Vulture Group
Cheetah Group (16, p. 102-104; 17)
From the late 1960’s to the mid-1980’s on-going refurbishing and relabeling were conducted in the Hall (2, 1968/69, p. 39; 2, 1971/72, p. 36; 20, p. 2, 1975/76; 21, p. 26; 2, 1985/86, p. 55).
The third floor mezzanine of the Akeley Hall of African Mammals was referred to as the Akeley Hall of African Mammals; Small Mammal Groups, Gallery; Akeley African Hall Gallery; Gallery of Akeley African Hall.
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Gottesman Research Library
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