Discover and re-encounter Milwaukee's famous gorilla, Samson, and learn about his eventful life at the Milwaukee County Zoo in the interactive exhibit "Samson Remembered."

See the fascinating artistry of a scientifically accurate re-creation of Samson, by museum artist Wendy Christensen-Senk on the museum's behind-the-scenes Web cam. Wendy will complete the full-size Samson in view of museum visitors during regularly scheduled sessions during 2007, as the centerpiece of the new exhibit.

Samson died November 27th, 1981 at the age of 32 years. This November will mark the 25th anniversary of his death.

Volunteers are needed to staff this exhibit. Please contact the Volunteer Office to sign up for training.

Highlights of the exhibit include:

• A platform scale, where children can compare their weight with Samson, who, at his heaviest weighed 650 pounds!

• The chance to "hold hands" with a gorilla. Visitors can compare their hands and feet with gorilla-sized versions.

• Videos of Samson and his faithful zoo caretaker Sam La Malfa.

• Photos of Samson throughout his life.

• Visitor presentations by Sam La Malfa, museum educators, museum docents and ZooPride volunteers.

• Samson's skeleton and "death mask," a mask created of his face at the time of his death.

• Samson's childhood playmate, Sambo, a gorilla brought to Milwaukee with Samson in 1950. Sambo died of tuberculosis in 1959 and "lives on" in the museum's Central Africa Hall exhibit.

• Exhibits about the natural history of gorillas, their endangered species status, and the development of the world's first gorilla preserve in Africa.

• Entertaining displays about gorillas in popular culture, as portrayed in movies such as "King Kong" and "Mighty Joe Young."