THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION'S
EARTH OPTIMISM SUMMIT
EARTH OPTIMISM SUMMIT
~ Hornaday's American Bison Group a Symbol for All Bison ~
The Smithsonian Institution's founding mission for environmental and planetary conservation was highlighted on Earth Day, 2017, in a report on the institution's first Earth Optimism Summit. In the article appearing in the Smithsonian Insider, Pamela M. Henson, Director of Smithsonian Archives' Institutional History Division, describes historical examples of institutional events, actions and objects which serve to advance the conservation goals featured in the April 21 Earth Day celebration. As the report notes, "... the Smithsonian has, from its beginnings, looked at problems facing our country and the world and worked to come up with solutions." By using examples from Smithsonian's history now, the goal is "to change the conversation about saving the planet from one of worry and failure to one of hope and success."
As Ms. Henson observes, "In addition to historic photos, the Smithsonian Archives has an incredible collection of field notebooks, and these documents contain a wealth of information that can be useful in conservation efforts. The notebooks have observations about an area’s climate, information about native and nonnative species, and data about food chains and species distribution. Ecologists and others can look at the information in these field notes and use it when, for example, they want to restore an area."
Overall, Henson sees a vital role for art, history and culture in the vast realm of conservation: "When people see the beauty in the world," she says, "they are inspired to care about it."
In this vein, as Henson observes, the report addresses one particular example of the positive impact of history on conservation in our own time:
As Ms. Henson observes, "In addition to historic photos, the Smithsonian Archives has an incredible collection of field notebooks, and these documents contain a wealth of information that can be useful in conservation efforts. The notebooks have observations about an area’s climate, information about native and nonnative species, and data about food chains and species distribution. Ecologists and others can look at the information in these field notes and use it when, for example, they want to restore an area."
Overall, Henson sees a vital role for art, history and culture in the vast realm of conservation: "When people see the beauty in the world," she says, "they are inspired to care about it."
In this vein, as Henson observes, the report addresses one particular example of the positive impact of history on conservation in our own time:
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One Smithsonian story that illustrates this is that of William Hornaday, the first director of the National Zoo. Hornaday was instrumental in saving the American bison from extinction. In 1886 he traveled to Montana to collect specimens for an exhibition at the National Museum, and he was surprised at how decimated the herds had become due to hunting. Although he’s probably best known for putting live bison on display behind the Castle to educate the public about the importance of conservation, the exhibition he created inside the museum was nearly as successful in saving the species.
Hornaday’s exhibition was surrounded by glass on all four sides to give visitors a full view of the bison in their natural habitat—the animals are standing at a watering hole complete with grass and soil from the Great Plains. It was a beautiful display that brought these animals to life; in fact, it was so successful that it is still on view in Montana today. |
"It’s just one example," the report concludes, "but things like Hornaday’s bison exhibition engage people and they begin to care."
Becky Haberacker, "The Smithsonian's history is right in line with Earth Optimism." Smithsonian Insider, 14 April, 2017. https://insider.si.edu/2017/04/smithsonians-history/
Currently, see Life on a Sustainable Planet, https://science.si.edu/earth-optimism/ and https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonian-launches-life-sustainable-planet-climate-change-initiative
Becky Haberacker, "The Smithsonian's history is right in line with Earth Optimism." Smithsonian Insider, 14 April, 2017. https://insider.si.edu/2017/04/smithsonians-history/
Currently, see Life on a Sustainable Planet, https://science.si.edu/earth-optimism/ and https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonian-launches-life-sustainable-planet-climate-change-initiative