Buy-A-Bone
Thank you for visiting our site and considering becoming a partner in our "Buy-A-Bone" campaign. This campaign marks a breakthrough for both the State Museum and its non-profit advocacy group, the Friends of the State Museum.
For the museum, the Mastodon project is the single most ambitious exhibit undertaken in the last 30 years. For The Friends, this campaign marks the beginning of a new chapter of grassroots support for our state museum- - a crown jewel that is home to one of the most important historical collections of artifacts in our Commonwealth.
As of mid-June, 2010, we have raised over $60,000, having "sold" 231 bones and received 38 additional gifts. Each bone we sell moves us closer to our goal of $250,000 to help offset the enormous cost of this project. And, each bone we sell will provide museum supporters with an opportunity to buy a loved one a piece of prehistoric history.
Marshalls Creek Mastodon in the "TUSKS!
Prehistoric Mammoths and Mastodons" exhibit atThe State Museum of
Pennsylvania
Project Mastodon: Why It's Special
There are several reasons this exhibit will be a jewel for the museum and a treat for visitors.
• The Marshalls Creek Mastodon is one of the best samples of its kind anywhere in the nation.
• Phil Fraley productions- charged with rebuilding the mastodon in his Pittsburgh studio-- is the best in the nation at his craft.
• Dr. Robert Sullivan on the State Museum staff is one of the leading paleontology experts in the nation.
The Marshalls Creek Mastodon was first unearthed in 1968 in Monroe County, PA. This is no ordinary beast! It stands 14 feet tall and weighs 4-5 tons - not too bad for a vegetarian!
The mastodon was discovered too late to be housed in full at the state museum. A plaster cast of the creature's bones has hung on a wall at the museum for the better part of 40 years. But that is going to change - with your help.
Our campaign will help to reconstruct the mastodon and to build the new Paleontology Gallery, to be housed on the museum's 3rd floor. The new gallery will be comprised of four interpretive areas and a series of dioramas with interactive tools for visitors.
How Can I Help?
The mastodon is comprised of 263 bones in all- from the tusks to the tail. Our goal is to "sell" each and every one of these bones to raise $125,000 of our $250,000 target. With each bone purchased, donors receive:
• Certificate of "Bone Ownership" signed by State Museum Paleontologist Dr. RobertSullivan
• Acknowledgement on display in the gallery
• The satisfaction of contributing to a worthy educational project.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the community's overwhelming support, we have already "sold out" of $25, $50, $75, $100 and $200 bones. We thank you for your sponsorship and are happy to honor any contributions in those amounts with a certificate of appreciation and recognition of support in the gallery.
All purchases and contributions are tax deductible.
Buy-A-Bone or Make A Contribution to the Campaign
