Mammoths in Waco

Can you imagine staring up at a mammoth standing over 20 feet tall? The Mayborn Museum is well on its way of making this dream a reality on the Baylor campus.

A mammoth sculpture is part of a Mayborn campaign to reignite curiosity through a 10-year, four-phase plan to transform its natural science and cultural history wing—and the first phase of the transformation includes a life-sized mammoth sculpture to welcome guests to the museum.

"We know the visitor experience starts in the parking lot," Dr. Trey Crumpton, Director of Visitor Experience at the Mayborn, said. "With this sculpture, we're going to have the opportunity to create those moments of wonder before visitors even get inside."

From beginning to end, the museum has prioritized staying mindful of the project from an accuracy and artistic standpoint. The Mayborn formed a committee that included professors from Baylor's geosciences department, faculty from Baylor's art department, Creative Waco, the Waco Mammoth National Monument, Baylor Construction Services and more.

"When we started, we specified that we wanted a solid proposal from an artist and a foundry team," Crumpton said. "We wanted to be able to rely on our artistic vision, design and production working well together so that it complimented the Mayborn, the University and the community desire for this piece."

The multi-disciplinary team chose Pyrology, a foundry based in Bastrop, sparked by Pyrology's extensive knowledge of production of bronzes at this mammoth scale.. And after to listening to proposals from different sculptors, the group chose Tom Tischler, an Australian sculptor originally from Texas.

"His proven ability at the scale, his understanding of the specific anatomical nature of this commission, and his grasp of what we need for the entire project were exactly what we were looking for," Crumpton said. "His proposed maquette hit a home run with the interview team and brought his artistic vision to transform it into a world-class piece."

Originally, the group had settled on mammoth sculpture that featured a cow and a calf, but Tischler brought in the idea of the bull.

"The committee was unanimous," Walter said. "After seeing his presentation, we knew it was the right way to go."

This isn't Tischler's first sculpture in Waco, nor is it his first mammoth. His bronze sculptures can be seen in Cameron Park along in Cameron Park Zoo; in Dallas, he his mammoth sculpture stands at Fair Park.

"He was very familiar with the science of how these animals move," assistant director of communication at the Mayborn, Rebecca Nall said. "It was encouraging to know that we'd be able to incorporate the accuracy and detail that are so important to us; we have an amazing museum thanks to Baylor and to our current staff and all the staff that have come before us and having this expertise in this project recognizes that."

The mammoths are planned to be installed in December 2023. This summer, Tischler is measuring fossilized mammoth bones in Waco to make sure his proportions are historically accurate. 

"From what we know, a family unit of a bull and a cow and a calf were likely not traveling together," Crumpton said. "But, because of our resources we can bring in some of the Waco mammoth story in which we did find bulls, along with females and juveniles — we have there remains here at the Mayborn — there likely was a bull traveling with a nursery herd. So, we're going to make sure that these sculptures most accurately resemble Waco mammoths."

The Mayborn is excited for all the future holds as they move forward with their four-phase plan as they continue to inspire future visitors.

"You know that when kids are walk up here and see these mammoths — you're just going to see their eyes light up," Walter said. "And when they go inside, they're going to be able to learn more about who we are and what we do—we couldn't be more excited."