Sycamore’s Midwest Museum of Natural History defies the stereotype of the small-town historical center.

The museum opened its doors in 2005 to boast over 100 animal specimens from North America and Africa. Arranged in dense layouts in the small building, some of the creatures almost hide within the throngs of beasts and need to be passed a second and third time to be appreciated fully.

The presentations aren’t limited to portrait-poised creatures. Some display predators leaping on unwitting victims; others, quadrupeds reared up on hind legs.

Among the other exhibits is the Urban Wildlife Observation Center, a windowed room that looks out on a small animal sanctuary on the side of the building. Here, less exotic, but living, breathing local animals might wander through to be examined by patrons.

In a small hut in a corner, two particularly ornery Madagascar hissing cockroaches fought over possession of a large twig in one of a series of terrariums. The others contain living scorpions, millipedes and a tarantula.

Other live animals at the museum include Hercules, an African spurred tortoise the size of a small television, and a boa constrictor named Princess.

Chris Brodnicki, executive director of the museum, said most of the living creatures at the museum were donated.

“People started calling and asking us to take their snakes off their hands for them,” Brodnicki said.

All of the animal facades were donated by Russel Schelkopf, a doctor of veterinary medicine who had previously kept them on display in his home.

Schelkopf had hired NIU football players for help on his farm, and in the entrance of the museum is a photo album depicting the athletes helping to move the animal exhibits.

The Midwest Museum is Brodnicki’s first endeavor as executive director, though he had worked on the Children’s Museum of Illinois in 1995.

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