1864-1926

American naturalist and explorer best known for his revolutionary taxidermic work in museum exhibition, specifically the realistic display of animals in their natural surroundings. Akeley, who traveled extensively in Africa to study, hunt, and collect specimens, developed a mounting method that resulted in unprecedented realism of displayed wildlife. His other inventions included the Akeley cement gun, used in mounting animals, and the Akeley motion-picture camera, which he was the first to use to capture motion pictures of African gorillas in their natural environment.