Museum of Osteology: Difference between revisions

| name = SKELETONSSkeletons: Museum of Osteology (Oklahoma City)

The '''Museum of Osteology''', located in [[Oklahoma City]], Oklahoma, U.S., is a private museum devoted to the study of bones and [[skeleton]]sskeletons ([[osteology]]). This museum displays over 450 skeletons of animal [[species]] from all over the world.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.blooloop.com/features/skeletons-animals-unveiled-i-drive-360/41612#.V6NtaesrLSI |title=Skeletons: Animals Unveiled! I-Drive 360 |website=www.blooloop.com|access-date=August 4, 2016}}</ref> With another 7,000 specimens as part of the collection, but not on display, this is the largest privately held collection of osteological specimens in the world.<ref name=outsidemag>{{Cite journalmagazine |lastlast1=Urstadt |firstfirst1=Brian |title=I'm Going to Rib-cage World |url=httphttps://outside1www.awayoutsideonline.com/outside/culture/200607outdoor-adventure/museumim-ofgoing-osteologyrib-1.htmlcage-world/ |magazine=[[Outside Magazine (magazine)|date=July 2006Outside]] |access-date=January June 177, 20112006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100925202631/http://outside1.away.com/outside/culture/200607/museum-of-osteology-1.html |archiveaccess-date=February September 2515, 2010 |url-status= dead2023}}</ref><ref name="theoklahoman>{{Cite journal |last=Raymond |first=Jeff |title=Skeleton Crew |magazine=The Oklahoman |url=http://www.skullsunlimitedraymond.com/record_news.php?id=7 |date=March 26, 2007 |access-date= April 9, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive03.org/web/20170823114941/http://www.skullsunlimited.com/record_news.php?id=7 |archive-date= August 23, 2017 |url-status= dead}}</ref26"><ref name=mooremonthly>{{Cite journal |last=Wheelbarger |first=Brent |title=The Bone Collectors; The Biggest Skeletal Collection in the World Right Here in Moore Oklahoma |url=http://www.skullsunlimited.com/userfiles/file/MooreMonthly_Oct2008.pdf |magazine=Moore Monthly |date=October 1, 2008}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> This museum is an entity of their parent company, [[Skulls Unlimited International|Skulls Unlimited International, Inc.]]

The museum does not support or condone poaching or any other illegal hunting practice.<ref name="jr.brus.2010.10.26">{{Cite news |last=Brus |first=Brian |date=October 26, 2010 |title=A real skeleton crew: Museum of Osteology opens in Moore |newspaper=[[The Journal Record]] |url=https://journalrecord.com/2010/10/26/a-real-skeleton-crew-museum-of-osteology-opens-in-moore-general-news/ |access-date=December 22, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref> All the specimens are ethically sourced.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Museum of Osteology and Skulls Unlimited |url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/museum-of-osteology-and-skulls-unlimited |access-date=December 22, 2022 |website=Atlas Obscura |language=en}}</ref> The Museum of Osteology partners with zoos, aquariums, wildlife centers, nature preserves, sportsmen, and private donators to make sure the animals are treated with respect and are properly taken care of after death.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 3, 2007 |title=Life as a skull cleaner is a messy job |language=en |workpublisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-work-skulls-idUSL2729433120070403 |access-date=December 22, 2022}}</ref> The museum also receives donations from [[Body donation|human donor programs.]].

[[Jay Villemarette]], founder of the company [[Skulls Unlimited International]], Inc., established the museum alongside his family. Skulls Unlimited's offices and processing facilities are located next to the museum.<ref name="outsidemag" /> Construction of the museum began in 2004 and it opened to the public on October 1, 2010.<ref name="outsidemag" /><ref name="theoklahoman.raymond.2007.03.26" /><ref name="the daily oklahoman">{{Cite news |last=Dinger |first=Matt |title=Museum Opens in Southeast Oklahoma City |url=http://www.newsok.com/article/3514718 |newspaper=The Daily Oklahoman |date=November 15, 2010}}</ref><ref name="normantranscript">{{Cite web |last=Gray |first=Aaron Wright |title=Villemarette Gets His Skeletons Out of the Closet |url=http://normantranscript.com/headlines/x176176282/Villemarette-gets-the-skeletons-out-of-the-closet/print |magazine=Norman Transcript |date=October 30, 2010 |access-date= November 15, 2010 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130130042044/http://normantranscript.com/headlines/x176176282/Villemarette-gets-the-skeletons-out-of-the-closet/print |archive-date= January 30, 2013 |url-status= dead}}</ref>

JayVillemarette wanted to share his love of science by displaying his collection and making osteology more accessible to the public.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Museum of Osteology {{!}} Okie Geek -– Podcast on Goodpods |url=https://goodpods.com/podcasts/okie-geek-190852/museum-of-osteology-17676618 |access-date=December 22, 2022 |website=Goodpods |language=en}}</ref> The museum encourages understanding of the complexities of the skeletal structure and an appreciation forof [[:simple:Extant|extant]] species.<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Bone Museum Oklahoma -– Museum Of Osteology |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvU02fFDzkc |publisher=Florida TV |via=YouTube |date=November 11, 2019 |language=en |access-date=December 22, 2022}}</ref>

In 2015, the Museum of Osteology opened a second location, [[Skeletons: Animals Unveiled|Skeletons: Museum of Osteology]] in Orlando, Florida, at the [[International Drive|I-Drive]] 360 entertainment complex.<ref>{{Cite web |last=American |first=Anna Aguilar For The |title=Skeleton museum opens |url=https://www.mooreamerican.com/news/skeleton-museum-opens/article_a1413fbf-8ccb-5da2-80f7-585aa23b81da.html |access-date=December 22, 2022 |website=The Moore American |language=en}}</ref> This location is cited as the largest skeleton museum in America with over 500 skeletons on display.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} In 2020, the Florida location closed and the collections were combined, making one SKELETONSSkeletons: Museum of Osteology.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Jessie Christopher |date=January 23, 2022 |title=It's In His Bones: Skull Collector Sees OKC Skeleton Museum Success as Childhood Dream |pages=8a-9a8a–9a |work=The Oklahoman}}</ref>

The museum has been featured on various media outlets, including TV channels, newspapers, and podcasts. It also has social media profiles on every major platform.

The museum offers many exhibits from all five vertebrate classes. There are also floating exhibits throughout the museum and whales hanging from the ceiling.<ref name="Transcript">{{Cite web |last=Transcript |first=Aaron Wright GrayTheGray – The Norman |title=Villemarette gets the skeletons out of the closet |url=https://www.normantranscript.com/news/local_news/villemarette-gets-the-skeletons-out-of-the-closet/article_9fc0c59e-80ca-5ddd-a866-3d3343f99cb7.html |access-date=December 19, 2022 |website=Norman Transcript |language=en}}</ref> All the specimens on display are cleaned at the Skulls Unlimited building next door, using [[Dermestidae|dermestid beetles]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Where ‘how'how greasy a human is’is' is part of the job |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15486395 |access-date=December 20, 2022 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> The skeletons are articulated and then put on display.<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Bryant |last1=Urstadt |date=January 7, 2006 |title=I'm Going to Rib-Cage World |url=https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/im-going-rib-cage-world/ |access-date=December 20, 2022 |website=Outside Online |language=en-US}}</ref> The exhibits display a wide range of topics, including locomotion, adaptation, and forensic osteology and pathology.<ref name="metrofamily.2012.08.11">{{Cite magazine |title=The Museum of Osteology—Dirty Jobs, Cool Bones & More! |url=https://www.metrofamilymagazine.com/the-museum-of-osteology-dirty-jobs-cool-bones-more/ |first1=Sara |last1=Riester |orig-date=August 11, 2012 |date=May 29, 2019 |access-date=December 20, 2022 |magazine=MetroFamily}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SKELETONS: Museum Of Osteology; #2 in Best Thing To Do In Oklahoma City |url=https://travel.usnews.com/Oklahoma_City_OK/Things_To_Do/Museum_of_Osteology_62276/ |access-date=December 22, 2022 |website=US News Travel}}</ref> The museum offers scavenger hunts for all ages. The answers to these can be found throughout the exhibits. The '"Explorers Corner" is the section of the museum devoted to hands-on activities for children. There is a mystery skull game where children can touch real animal skulls.<ref name="metrofamily.2012.08.11"/> They can also dissect [[owl pellet]]s on the first floor or in the classroom.

[[File:Mike Rowe and Jay Villemarette Cleaning Skull.jpg|left|thumb|188x188px|Mike Rowe with Jay Villemarette Cleaningcleaning Aa Humpbackhumpback Whalewhale Skullskull at SKELETONSSkeletons: Museum of Osteology (Oklahoma)]]

[[Komodo*Chimp dragon|Komodofrom Dragon]]Space Program – OneDonated ofto the firstmuseum Komodoby DragonsWilliam toTaylor, beretired allowedNASA entryscientist intoand thephotographer. United StatesChimp was a gift from the president of Indonesiasaid to [[Georgehave H. W. Bush]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Abeen Peekused Insidein the Museumspace Archivesprogram |publisher=Richardat NixonHolloman MuseumAF, andAlamogordo, LibraryNew |url=https://wwwMexico.nixonlibrary.gov/news/peek-inside-museum-archives |date=January 24, 2022 |access-date=December 19, 2022}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=January 2023|reason=No sourceSource is citedneeded to verify thisthese claims, including that the specimen is at the museum.}}