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THE BUFFALO PROJECT
FRIENDS OF THE MUSEUM AND HISTORY CENTER;
We are happy to announce that the restoration of the buffalo is complete. Big Timber Taxidermy owner, Jerry Vinnola has completed the work of restoring the four buffalo in the Diorama in the Amick Gallery, through the contributions of many people, organizations and the Friends of the Museum and History Center fund raisers.
Please visit the museum and admire the work done on these wonderful artifacts, and the Diorama has been restored, also this spring of 2010 through a very generous gift from Roy Coffee, an Amick admirer.
History of the Buffalo that now reside in the Diorama in the Amick Gallery of the Museum.
#1. These are mountain bison, a different species from the plains buffalo, they were a large herd in the South Park Region of Colorado until the late 1880’s, when they were all hunted and killed.
The display consists of four mountain bison: One bull, one mature cow, one year old heifer and one calf.
#2. The Bartlett Brothers of Leadville were taxidermists, and decided they would make lots of money if they killed the last four buffalo, mounted them, and sold them.
#3. In 1897, the brothers found and killed these last specimens of the Mountain Bison, and had them skinned and boned. They were apprehended, and charged by the Department of Wildlife with a felony (unlawful taking of game).
1901: A trial was conducted in Leadville, and the Bartlett Brothers were charged. However, the charges were dismissed in October of 1901 because the law they were charged under was changed before the trial began, and therefore no legal standing for a felony.
1901: The buffalo hides and bones were confiscated by the DOW, and were put into storage.
1910: The Sheriff from Leadville was ordered to sell the hides at auction, and Peter Mulock paid $1,085.00 for the hides and bones.
1910: Peter Mulock had the taxidermist, J. C. Miles, in Denver mount the buffalo so that they could be easily moved and displayed.
1928: The bison were offered for sale to the Canon City Museum, and they were housed in Leadville at that time.
May 1928: Peter Mulock sold the mounted buffalo to the Museum in Canon City for $1085.00, and the money was subscribed from the community with urging from Mrs. Olive Egbers and Dall DeWeese.
June 1928; Th e painting of the diorama background for the mountain bison procured from Peter Mulock by the community was done by Robert Amick, famous artist, who is a native son of Canon City. The picture features Mt. Pisgah, which these animals were familiar with when alive, since they were with a herd in the South Park area.
September 2008: The condition of the bison at this time is deteriorated hides, and the calf is in especially bad condition. There is a limit to the availability of funds for the actual preservation process and therefore we are asking for funding from the Community to preserve this most important artifact.
Please see the beginning statement, 2010, we have achieved our goal of restoration of the buffalo, and are now working on other exhibits that need our attention.
Thank you,
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