1. Carl Ethan Akeley was a pioneering American taxidermist, sculptor, biologist, conservationist, inventor, and nature photographer, noted for his contributions to American museums, most notably to the Milwaukee Public Museum, Field Museum of Natural History and the American Museum of Natural History.
Carl Akeley was the founder of the AMNH Exhibitions Lab, the interdisciplinary department that fuses scientific research with immersive design.
Carl Akeley learned taxidermy from David Bruce in Brockport, New York, and then entered an apprenticeship in taxidermy at Ward's Natural Science Establishment in Rochester, New York.
In 1886 Carl Akeley moved on to the Milwaukee Public Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Carl Akeley remained in Milwaukee for six years, refining "model" techniques used in taxidermy.
Carl Akeley left the Milwaukee Public Museum in 1892 and set up a private studio from which he continued to do contract work, including three mustangs for the Smithsonian Institution for exhibition at the World's Columbian Exposition.
Carl Akeley is today known as the inventor of shotcrete, or "gunite" as he termed it at the time.
Carl Akeley did not use sprayable concrete in his taxidermy work, as is sometimes suggested.
Carl Akeley invented a highly mobile motion picture camera for capturing wildlife, started a company to manufacture it, and patented it in 1915.
Carl Akeley wrote several books, including stories for children, and an autobiography In Brightest Africa.
Carl Akeley was awarded more than 30 patents for his inventions.
Carl Akeley specialized in African mammals, particularly the gorilla and the elephant.
Carl Akeley displayed the specimens in groups in a natural setting.
Carl Akeley was equally committed to presenting mounts in the context of their scientifically accurate environments and social interactions.
Carl Akeley's techniques resulted in anatomically accurate, skinless manikins of an animal in lifelike actions and postures.
Carl Akeley based the mannequin on precise field measurements and photographs as well as his understanding of the animal's anatomy and behavior in its natural environment.
Carl Akeley first traveled to Africa in 1896 when he was invited by Daniel Elliot, Curator of the Zoology Department in the new Columbian Field Museum, on an eight month expedition to Somaliland.
Carl Akeley collected hundreds of animal specimens including: hartebeest, gazelles, hyenas, kudus, oryx, and lions.
Carl Akeley took nearly 1,000 glass plate photos and collected 17 tons of material including: 400 mammal skins, 1200 small mammal skins, 800 bird skins, and a fair number of bird and mammal skeletons.
In 1909, Carl Akeley accompanied Theodore Roosevelt on a year-long expedition in Africa funded by the Smithsonian Institution and began working at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, where his efforts can still be seen in the Carl Akeley Hall of African Mammals.
Carl Akeley joined the Explorers Club in 1912, having been sponsored by three of the Club's seven Charter Members: Frank Chapman, Henry Collins Walsh, and Marshall Saville.
In 1921, eager to learn about gorillas to determine if killing them for museum dioramas was justified, Carl Akeley led an expedition to Mt.
Carl Akeley began his fifth journey to the Congo with the start of the dry season in late 1926.
Carl Akeley had previously been married to Delia Akeley for nearly 20 years.
Delia Carl Akeley accompanied him on two of his biggest and most productive safaris to Africa, in 1905 and again in 1909.