Wisconsin Frights

Happy STAR WARS DAY! In Milwaukee, one of the most unusual links between Star Wars and real-world natural history lives inside a museum display.

The mount of Milwaukee's famous gorilla Samson is actually a full re-creation created by long-time Milwaukee Public Museum taxidermist Wendy Christensen. After spending 25 years preserved in a freezer at the zoo, Samson's original skin was too deteriorated to mount.

Instead of letting his presence disappear, Christensen rebuilt him using his plaster death mask, archival photos, and carefully sourced synthetic materials. Among them was specialized fur from National Fiber Technology, the same company known for supplying Wookiee fur for the Star Wars films.

The Samson re-creation and his real articulated skeleton are on display at the Milwaukee Public Museum in the Victorian-style Sense of Wonder exhibit until the museum closes at the end of the year.

Witness (or be a part of) the Gathering of the Jasons world record attempt happening today at Milwaukee Horror Con! More info: https://www.wisconsinfrights.com/milwaukee-horror-con/

The encounter with this winged horror, also known as the “Briggs Road Bat Man,” occurred in 2006. A Native American man named Wohali and his son were driving down Briggs Road in La Crosse when a large winged creature flew toward them. They described it as being six feet tall, having sharp teeth, leathery bat-like wings spanning 10-12 feet, human legs with claws, and protruding ribs. It flew up to their windshield, screamed at them, and then vanished over the treetops into the sky.

Wohali and his son both suddenly became ill and had to pull over to vomit. They reported feeling sick for a week after the incident.