x
Breaking News
More () »

ESU Wildlife and Natural History Museum Opens to Public

EAST STROUDSBURG — An impressive collection of animals from around the world is opening to the public for the first time at East Stroudsburg University. N...
Museum_And_Planetarium_Wall

EAST STROUDSBURG -- An impressive collection of animals from around the world is opening to the public for the first time at East Stroudsburg University.

Newswatch 16 went inside for a first look inside the Schisler Wildlife and Natural History Museum set to open this Saturday.

Leopards, moose and wolves – almost every stuffed animal you see is something Art Schisler and his wife Fannie killed in North America, Africa, and Mexico.

"These animals kind of get to be important to you, because you work pretty hard for them,” said Schisler.

The ’62 alumni say this life collection was an outlet for them working in the funeral home industry.

"He came back a different person. He needed that time to get away from the business,” said Fannie Schisler.

They’ve donated it all back to their Alma Mater, opening this Wildlife and Natural History Museum in 2013 and now beginning this Saturday, it will be open to the public.

“I think it had an important part in making my life what it came to be, and I thought I'd like to give something back,” said Schisler.

The Schislers say each and every one of these animals tells a story, and they're just grateful they're finally able to share it all with the community.

"Our number one mission is community outreach. We definitely want as many people in here as we can get, to learn to enjoy, to explore,” said curator Cathy Klingler.

The exhibits aren’t behind glass and many encourage interaction.

There are more than 130 pieces total on display, plus all of the insects.

ESU senior biology major Alexandra Machrone helped put these displays together.

"I learned a lot about the animals; we did all of the research on all of the animals in here so I learned a lot of background on everything,” said Machrone.

Down the hall, the McMunn Planetarium is opening to the public, too.

"We have some homemade shows on constellations, on phases of the moon, things of that nature, but we also have professionally produced shows on black holes, planets, things of that nature,” said physics and astronomy professor David Buckley.

Admission to explore these new worlds costs $4 for kids and seniors, $6 for adults. Children under 3 are free.

Before You Leave, Check This Out