It Looks Better On Them!

Our ancestors wore animal furs and skins for millennia. Before we figured out how to make plant-based textiles and then to create modern synthetic gear that outperforms natural materials – and comes with its own drawbacks, we were entirely dependent on animal resources to stay warm and dry. Today, many people still wear leather. 

The collection of exotic skin objects is on long-term loan from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Turtle Bay has had this collection since 2001 when it was featured in the snake portion of the Beauties and Beasts exhibition. Some of these objects were seized from people who had obtained them illegally, and others were donated by museums to the USFWS for educational purposes.

Learning about animals bred or captured for their furs or skins, how they are treated, and the environmental impact helps us make more informed choices about what we buy and wear. Turtle Bay is a great place to engage with a wide variety of wildlife. Once you have explored this exhibition, we encourage you to meet some of our animal ambassadors, such as Kalkadoon, the Ackie monitor lizard; Loki, the red fox; or Danger and Precious, the rattlesnakes. After that, head up to the museum to learn about our local historic fur trade. 

Mill Building

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