Featured Exhibit

the Trapper

The trapper display exposes the lifestyle of the first Europeans who ventured into the Midwest. Trappers came to collect the valuable pelts of animals, specifically the beaver and bear.

One of the earliest Europeans in Northwest Missouri was a Frenchman named Ettienne Veniard de Bourgmont. In 1724, he traveled from Fort Orleans, which is in present-day Saline County. His journals document everything from large packs of wolves to smoking a peace pipe, as well as trade with the Native Americans. Trade items such as metal axes and beads were used to entice Native Americans into helping the trappers.

The trapper's tent at the Nature Center shows the everyday tools necessary for a trapper to survive. Guests can sit on a rope bed, touch the real furs, view real traps and gaze at other meager possessions a trapper may have.

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the Woolly Mammoth

The woolly mammoth and baby create a memorable signature exhibit at the Remington Nature Center. At replica size, this exhibit allows visitors to comprehend the height and appearance of these Ice Age creatures, and allows patrons to step back thousands of years ago to a different time in Northwest Missouri's history.

Taylor Studios in Rantoul, Illinois designed the mammoths, as well as the scene around them. Specializing in museum-quality replicas, Taylor Studios creates lifelike exhibits for educational facilities around the United States including the National Civil War Museum in Pennsylvania, the Lewis and Clark Interpretative Center in North Dakota, and the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Kansas.

A member of the Elephantidae family, mammoths often grew 16-foot tusks, and could survive up to 60 years of age. They ate 130 to 660 pounds of food per day, and produced 31 to 400 pounds of dung daily. These social creatures lived right here in Northwest Missouri. Don't believe it? Perhaps the mammoth bones-the tusk, femur, humerus, tibia and mammoth teeth all found in Northwest Missouri-and also on display at the Remington Nature Center-will convince you.

the Black Bear

The black bear, on display at the Remington Nature Center, is a great example of the Center's motto, "where history and nature collide." Hundreds of years ago, black bears were common in Missouri. In fact, during the 1700s and into the early 1800s, black bears were so plentiful they were killed, second only to deer, for food.

By the 1840s, black bears were rare in Northwest Missouri. Reintroduction efforts in Arkansas helped the black bear to become more plentiful, and many people in Northwest Missouri claim a few still exist in this area.

The bear on display at the Nature Center was shot around International Falls, Minnesota by Jack "Cody" O'Donnell. While an average black bear weighs approximately 200 pounds, Mr. O'Donnell's bear was 630 pounds, and 7 feet, from nose to tail.

This impressive bear is a reminder of the animals from long ago, that used to thrive in Missouri. The black bear is just one of the handful of other unique animals on display, including a puma, feral hog, bison, bobcat and gray wolf.

the Beehive

The Remington Nature Center added its latest exhibit-an observation honey bee hive. The observation hive, honey bees and queen bee came from Draper's Super Bee located in Auburn, Nebraska. Specially made with double strength glass, hinged door and locked entry, the observation feeder allows everyone to safely observe the bees. Such hives from Draper's are on display all over the Midwest, including at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo. Craig Rippey, WPC, lent the Nature Center his knowledge and expertise by placing the bees into the observation hive.

A tube connects the observation hive to the outside and on nice days, bees fly in and out, busy with their work. Danny Murawski got the piping into place, as well as made a base to elevate the hive. A feeder jar with sugar and water syrup also feeds the bees, until the flowers are fully in bloom.

More features will be added to the exhibit, including an informational sign about bees, take-home brochures and honey recipes from the National Honey Board, and possibly a video of honey bees and their importance.

Seven Native American Peace Medals

The Remington Nature Center of St. Joseph has unveiled its newest display : Seven Native American Peace Medals.

"We are extremely proud that this display is something to be viewed in St. Joseph," said Andrea George, exhibit coordinator for the nature center. "Such a range of medals are usually on display in major museums. We are happy that we are able to keep Northwest Missouri's cultural history in this area."

The medals on display were struck from a variety of metals, and are from some of the greatest presidencies: George Washington, Andrew Johnson, John Adams, and Rutherford B. Hayes. The display includes the medals, pictures of the opposite side of each medal, as well as an explanatory sign about peace medals and their importance to Native Americans.

With over 1,200 Native American artifacts already on display, the peace medals tie into the cultural and natural heritage of Native Americans who lived in Northwest Missouri hundreds of years ago.

"St. Joseph has such a rich history, and weâ€™re proud to showcase another exhibit dedicated to Native Americans," said George. "No people like the Native Americans could have been as resourceful with the Earth and its resources. We believe this exhibit is another reason the Remington Nature Center is dubbed 'where history and nature collide.'"

For more information, contact Andrea George, exhibit/event coordinator, at 816-676-3204 or ageorge@ci.st-joseph.mo.us.

Pottery

This pottery jar is made of clay with ground clam shells used for tempering. It has four small lugs on the rim, used for suspension. The surface has punch mark designs made by pressing a blunt twig into the wet clay, as well as cross-hatch designs from lines made with a sharp stick. The jar's decorative lines and punch marks are not only for decoration, but serve to dissipate heat from the vessel, much like a radiator, allowing the jar to be used to cook in without breaking.

This local artifact was found on an Early Mississippian site in Holt County, Missouri, 900-1200 A.D.

The Remington Nature Center has five complete pieces of Native American pottery on display, as well as over 1,000 Native American artifacts.