ST. GEORGE — Officials dedicated a new wildlife museum here Saturday, calling it a gift to the community, but local critics vowed to never enter a facility housing dead animals.
Alaska-based hunting guide Jimmie Rosenbruch, who was raised in St. George, has placed his collection of 180 animal mounts on display at the World Wildlife Heritage Museum, a 33,000-square-foot addition to the Dixie Convention Center.
The museum was funded by a $2.9 million bond secured by the Rosenbruch Foundation and another $800,000 community improvement bond shared jointly by Washington County and St. George. Restaurant tax revenues will be used to repay the lesser bond amount, said Washington County Commissioner Alan Gardner.
Elder Jeffrey Holland of the Quorum of Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recalled happy memories chasing Gila monsters with his childhood friend Rosenbruch as they explored the desert hills nearby.
In his dedicatory prayer, Elder Holland thanked Rosenbruch for giving so much back to this southern Utah community.
But the museum has plenty of critics, who believe killing animals is wrong.
Among them are the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, a shelter that does not euthanize animals, and people like Gwen Packard of Veyo, Washington County, who works with Angels for Animals, another organization that finds homes for unwanted animals.
"I firmly believe we learn more by studying living people, animals and plants than we ever learn by looking at dead animals," Packard said. "It's not a museum, it's a trophy room. Children will learn that if you've got a lot of money you can go out and kill things even though you shouldn't."
The museum houses rare and familiar animals taken by the Rosenbruch family during hunts in the Arctic tundra, Tibet, Africa, Australia and other remote lands.
Rosenbruch and his wife, Mary Ann, have heard critical comments before and take them in stride.
"The contribution hunters make to habitat and animal conservation is there, whether you like it or not," Rosenbruch said, adding the museum is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream that he and his wife have shared. An outreach program will go to nearby schools, and the museum has a hands-on room full of animal hides and other oddities for children to touch.
Eighteen-year-old Amanda Hixsom, a senior at Dixie High School, said she is appalled by the ideas represented at the museum.
"The name of the museum is an oxymoron," she said, "There's no life there at all. It's all death. Showcasing, in my opinion, murder."
Those who hold such feelings are invited to tour the museum and learn more about the Rosenbruchs' efforts to educate the public about their conservation efforts and commitment to the benefits of managed sport hunting, said museum curator Dustin Hammer.
"I will personally walk them through myself," Hammer said, adding there are several rare species displayed at the museum that now are making a comeback in their natural habitat thanks to specific hunting programs.
"If hunters hadn't put a value on these animals, they wouldn't be here today," he said. "If it wasn't for the sportsman willing to pay a fee (to hunt an animal), many of these animals would be extinct."
Museum update
Location: 1835 Convention Center Drive, St. George
Fee: $5.50 per adult; $2.50 per child (3-12)
More information: 435-656-0033