The saltwater marsh diorama

This film depicts the step-by-step construction of a diorama of the marsh at the Thames Science Center in New London, Connecticut, from the collection of accessories to the completed exhibit. Preparation begins at the Pattagansett salt-water marsh near Niantic, Connecticut. A stereoscopic camera is used to record the sand dunes, tidal estuary, flood plains, and freshwater inlet, which will serve as models for the background painting. Leaf, grass, and plant specimens are collected and preserved in a Formalin solution. Plaster casts are made of the specimens. The casts are placed in a vacuum and covered with cellulose acetate. This process produces a sheet of plastic leaves, which will be cut out and painted for the exhibit. AMNH preparator Raymond H. de Lucia's first draws the background in charcoal before working on the foreground. The diorama begins to take shape and is then moved from his studio, at his home, to the Thames Science Center, where the finishing touches are added. Crabs, snails, a heron, clapper rail, and snowy egret prepared by David Schwendeman, an AMNH taxidermist, are placed in the exhibit.