Lake Chelan Museum of Wildlife, Natural History & Art Gallery readies world-class exhibits for 2024 opening

By TERRY J. LABRUE, APR
LaBrue Communications

CHELAN – Last fall, when local business man, Shannon Kollmeyer, offered a preview of his extensive taxidermy collection at the new Nature’s Window Museum, he and his wife Cris thought they had a winner. But, the soft opening in October was received with enthusiastic, positive response. 

Over the winter, final touches were made at the museum by specialists. A unique soundtrack was set, additional exhibits were installed, and a vivid diorama of wildfires in the Pacific Northwest was unveiled. Now, the new museum is making its completed spring debut to the general public. The facility has been used by community groups, school field trips, and hunter safety education classes sponsored by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The Chelan-based retirees proudly established Nature’s Window Museum of Wildlife, Natural History & Art, in their local community for a number of reasons. “The mission of the museum serves as an education center for wildlife conservation and to increase knowledge and appreciation for the diverse wildlife of the world, and to inform the public about the rôle art and wildlife management play in conserving these valuable resources.”

“All of us at the museum engage our guests regarding the wonder of wildlife. It is the merger of science, technology, and art that tells the true story,” Kollmeyer remarked. “What’s more, our artistic dioramas are accurate representations of animal habitat that are the vital teaching tools of conservation. Visitors can learn about wildlife management and the way talented artists and ethical hunters work to preserve wild places and wild animals for future generations.” 

It is a recognized fact, humans have been hunters since the beginning of time.

Pictographs, petroglyphs, and other artifacts around the world document the dependence on animals for their survival. Locally, a wide range of pictographs in Central Washington, including Lake Chelan and the Columbia River Regions, captured visual examples of the relationship between early hunters in the area and native wildlife. The inaugural art show at Nature’s Window gallery features dramatic pictograph water colors by the late Louis Adolph Kollmeyer, father of co-founder Shannon Kollmeyer.

“Preserving our wilderness and the natural world around us is more critical than ever. What’s more, it is a responsibility of all citizens,” Kollmeyer explained.                          

In the early Twentieth Century, President Theodore Roosevelt, along with other noted sportsmen, was instrumental in crafting the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. The policies this model established created the world’s most successful wildlife and habitat conservation program that has rescued hundreds of wildlife species from extinction. 

More than most, the new wildlife museum brings the living world indoors providing a sensory journey with unique sounds and sights that stimulate deep responses. Whether it is a howl of an Arctic wolf, the sound of wind in central Alaska, or the honk of a Canada goose, nature’s soundtrack is recreated using the latest museum technology. Visitors are immediately immersed in nature, perhaps bringing back memories of adventures and the call of the wild. 

It was Kollmeyer’s concept to bring together an exceptional group of specialists to help fulfill his mission. He succeeded in offering an exceptional, world-class museum facility for the the Chelan community to enjoy. The initial collection of taxidermy species in Nature’s Window is provided by the Kollmeyers and other donors from Washington state and Arizona. As the collection matures, more examples will be added.

Starting now, the museum also features an extensive Fire Ecology exhibit with a wide range of professional photos and explanations documenting the historical fire disturbances common in the Pacific Northwest. This exhibit was designed and installed by John Marshall from Wenatchee.

Nature’s Window is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday from April to October. It is especially good for private functions and special events as a meeting place, reception site, and as a venue for fund-raising events. As an education center, Nature’s Window has proven just right for hunter-safety lessons, scout meetings, sportsmen’s clubs, school field trips, and art classes. 

About Nature’s Window:

Lake Chelan Museum of Wildlife, Natural History & Art Gallery is located at 21285 Highway 97A, Chelan, WA 98816, north of the Knapp’s Hill Tunnel, approximately 10 minutes south of Chelan and 45 minutes north from Wenatchee, on Link Transit’s Route #52.