I got to fondle Grover Kranz's bones last night..... Options

[Savage30L]

And no, I'm not making this up.

I've been working on a project for the Smithsonian intermittently for the last 11 months, and have developed a friendship with a chap who works there. Every Friday evening at 5:30, some scientists, curators, and grad students gather in a room in the basement of the National Museum of Natural History to taste some gourmet beers and socialize, and occasionally I attend one of these gatherings. My wife and I went to the one yesterday, but we got there early, so my friend decided to give us a tour of the bowels of the museum. As we were walking through corridors, he asked me if there was anything I'd like to see. Naturally, I asked him if they had a bigfoot carcass hidden somewhere in the basement.

"Nooooooo", he said, "but we have something even better!" The "better" turned out to be the remains of Grover Kranz. My friend led us through a seemingly endless maze of corridors, all of which were lined with specimen cabinets, and we eventually came up to two anthropologists who were putting something in one of the cabinets. I was introduced to them, and we began talking Kranz and Bigfoot. It just so happened that we were standing right next to several cabinets marked "Kranz", which contained his casts of bigfoot prints, so one of the anthropologists pulled out each cast, one by one, and we examined them. Some were clearly authentic, and some appeared to have been made from faked prints. We also looked at Grover's pair of boots that had been glued to fake bigfoot feet (he used these to illustrate how prints could be faked). Then, we walked a few yards over to another cabinet, which contained Dr. Kranz's bones (which had been willed to the Smithsonian, along with his collection of bigfoot evidence). Dr. Kranz must have been a big fellow. I'm not small myself, but I put his femur next to my leg, and it was about 5 inches longer than mine, and very robust...almost like a baseball bat. (My feet are bigger than Kranz's, though!! )

We then went downstairs and spent a very pleasant evening full of conviviality and good conversation (and plenty of beer ). All in all, it was a neat experience.

[mkianni]

Interesting.
I thought Dr. Meldrum had all of Dr. Krantz's casts.

Here's something I just recently found. Krantz

Probably old news. I'm always the last to find anything cool.

[StacyInMI]

I got to fondle Grover Kranz's bones last night.....

What a great way to start the morning, reading that sentence!


Here's a picture of his bones in a drawer. I could have sworn that at one point he was fully assembled and on display but can't find a shred of anything backing that up, so I'm either seriously confused or dreamed that.

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[Savage30L]

The man shown in the photo (whose name, unfortunately, I have already forgotten) is the anthropologist I mentioned in the story above.

By the way, Kranz also willed the bones of his Irish Wolfhound to the Smithsonian. The Institution plans to re-articulate the skeltons of both Kranz and his dog, and pose them together in a display!

[mkianni]

By the way, Kranz also willed the bones of his Irish Wolfhound to the Smithsonian. The Institution plans to re-articulate the skeltons of both Kranz and his dog, and pose them together in a display!

Is it just me, or does anyone else think this is kind of weird?

[StacyInMI]

I think it's very cool!

[Paul1968UK]

Is it just me, or does anyone else think this is kind of weird?

It seems fine to me. I guess it really boils to to whether you have religious beliefs (and I'm going to tread very carefully here). If, like me, you hold no religious beliefs whatsoever, then it really doesn't matter to me what happens to my body when I die - its just flesh and bones, and there is no afterlife to move on to. If however you do believe an afterlife (as most religions do), then you probably want to stay somewhat intact, and probably have a little more concern for your remains.

I kinda fancy being plastinated and put on display.

[RedRatSnake]

Hi

I got to go with kinda Creepy


Peace
Tim

[mkianni]

No religious implications.
I'm just thinking along the lines of taking the family through the Smithsonian and going, "Oh look, there's T-rex, and check it out, isn't that Archaeopteryx, and look at this display, it's Dr. Krantz and his Irish wolfhound Wolfgar.................wait, what?

Maybe it's just me.

[Paul1968UK]

What would be weird is having his infamous schpincter on display

[Savage30L]

They plan to pose the skeletons in such a way that the wolfhound is standing on his hind legs, resting his paws on Kranz's shoulders.

Kranz was an educator all of his life. His last wish was that his mortal remains be used to educate people after his death. The Smithsonian is just honoring Kranz's wish.

What would be weird is having his infamous schpincter on display

Speaking of unmentionables, my friend did drop a hint about John Dillinger...but I don't think I want to look into that, curiosity notwithstanding.

[mkianni]

Yeah.........he was said to have been packin a pretty big gun.

[bipedalist]

Hi

I got to go with kinda Creepy
Peace
Tim

It can't be any creepier than that Sherlock Holmes hat you're wearing in that avatar Tim? Is it just me imagining
or is that what it is? Where's the magnifying glass if so? And yes, Krantz obviously had a sense
of humor and purpose in his final wishes and disposition of his remains, which is more than a lot of people leave as a bequest.
Can' wait to see the final articulated display.

[RedRatSnake]

It can't be any creepier than that Sherlock Holmes hat you're wearing in that avatar Tim? Is it just me imagining
or is that what it is? Where's the magnifying glass if so?

Hi
You force me to respond, What Sherlock who !!!

Thats my Black Label Society dew Rag

Peace
Tim

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[bipedalist]

Hi
You force me to respond, What Sherlock who !!!

Thats my Black Label Society dew Rag

Peace
Tim

How could I have been so far from Scotland Yard on that one?

[Redwolf]

As someone who does hold religious beliefs (though mine do not fall in with the mainstream), I have no problem with it. It's only bones.

Pretty neat Savage, though like Stacy, I had to do a double take on that headline

This post has been edited by Redwolf: Mar 8 2008, 11:03 AM

[bartlojays]

OMG, I just woke up here in CA, jumped on the site and saw the word "fondle" and got all excited

JK Savage30L, that is pretty cool.

This post has been edited by bartlojays: Mar 8 2008, 11:16 AM

[oregonfooter]

Hey, you could throw me over the fence and piss off the neighbors, for all I care... but be in the Smithsonian... way cool

[JayleeD]

Savage, I'm glad you got to fondle Dr. Krantz' bones. It's not something I would want to do, but different strokes as they say!


At first I got a sort of creepy feeling reading about it, but like Red says, it's only bones, so that takes the creepy out of it I guess.

Edit to ask, did you ever meet Dr. Krantz when he was alive Savage? Now, if you did then you fondled his bones, that would put the creepy back in if for me.

[RedRatSnake]

Edit to ask, did you ever meet Dr. Krantz when he was alive Savage? Now, if you did then you fondled his bones, that would put the creepy back in if for me.

Hi

That is good

Peace
Tim

[John Cartwright]

I have to agree with the creepy part. I love the Smithsonian and visit it every chance I get, but I really like to stay detached from the remains on view. Actually knowing the identity of the remains makes it too personal for me. Just my opinion...

[Savage30L]

Edit to ask, did you ever meet Dr. Krantz when he was alive Savage? Now, if you did then you fondled his bones, that would put the creepy back in if for me.

No, I never met the man. I did manage to spend some time at WSU, but that was the year after Kranz died.

However, the anthropologist whom I mentioned, and who is shown in the picture above, was (I gather), an old and dear friend of Dr. Kranz's. I was really struck by the dispassionate way in which he handled Grover's bones.....let us not forget, though, that handling human bones is what this man does 8 hours a day. After looking at Dr. K's bones we spent 10-15 minutes handling and discussing the skulls of dozens of South American Indians.

By the way, I gave serious thought to becoming a Physical Anthropologist back when I was in college. This sort of stuff has always fascinated me.

[billgreen2005big...]

hey everyone wow very interesting new thread about dr grover krantz i think

This post has been edited by billgreen2005bigfoot: Mar 8 2008, 02:04 PM

[RedRatSnake]

Hi

Good one Bill

Ya know i got the feeling that this thread will be around for a while, I am sure Poor old Grover Rest His Sole is looking down and laughing his ass off

I got to fondle Grover Kranz's bones last night...


Peace Grover
Tim

[RavenMadd]

RIP Grover Krantz ........I miss him

[billgreen2005big...]

Hi

Good one Bill

Ya know i got the feeling that this thread will be around for a while, I am sure Poor old Grover Rest His Sole is looking down and laughing his ass off

I got to fondle Grover Kranz's bones last night...
Peace Grover
Tim

hey tim wow very interesting above reply indeed, yes dr grover krantz is in heavon resting in peace amen.. thanks bill

This post has been edited by billgreen2005bigfoot: Mar 8 2008, 04:05 PM

[dr hand]

Hi new guy here, I worked with the good doctor while in college back in the 80's and have (college project) videotape of him sincerely sharing his views on bigfoot and how it will be only a matter of time before a hunter pops one and solves the last great hominid mystery of our time. Well it's been nearly 30 years since I sat with Dr Grover, and the only bones we got in the Museum are his. Call it sad, ironic or pathetic, but the mania and hysteria that grabbed the good doctor over mysterious footprints is the same fantasy that glazes the eyes of reasonable people when contortionist bears appear in the flash of hunter cams in Penn. Dr Krantz was an academic with a closet full of hope but nearly no tangible proof. Now his bones sit in a drawer. There is some fun in this hobby, but as a legacy it is hollow pursuit. Just ask the bones in the drawer. Better yet go drill a cheerleader.

[mkianni]

Thank you Debbie downer.

[RedRatSnake]

Hi


Hey it is a new Sunny Day out there in BF Land today let's remember Grover and all the good things he has done for us in the world of BF

Peace and Goodwill

Tim

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[Incorrigible1]

fantasy that glazes the eyes of reasonable people when contortionist bears appear in the flash of hunter cams in Penn.

Welcome, I think, to BFF. Perhaps you're not aware of the fact, but the immediate and general consensus on this forum, regarding the PA mange-stricken bear, was just that, and not one of mistaken and forlorn belief the photos captured anything more mysterious.

Looking forward to more discussion with you, Dr. Hand, provided you don't feel we're all simpleton star-struck "believers." If you read a little here on BFF, you might find some serious skepticism abounding.

[Redwolf]

Thank you Debbie downer.

OMG!!

[dr hand]

When I saw this thread...well, it is a downer..."Research scientist to spend eternity next to beloved plaster casts in drawer." Nice obit. I appreciate the welcome, and after spinning wheels over at the other site where reality is in short supply...let's just say, "douchebags field research organization" and get it over with. OK I'm done with the negativity.

Good Dr. Grover, RIP
Blowing away fuzzypatty,
It's seems is not so EZ
Mayhaps someday, while redneck joe is a sleeping,
Big Hairy will peer, nay do his famous "window peeping..."
And lets hope gunpacking joe looking back through the glass
will shout "suck on this fatty!"
and pack a cap in his ass.

dr. hand.

[tsiatkoVS]

It seems fine to me. . .
I kinda fancy being plastinated and put on display.

I'd like my ashes spread in some dinky headwater cutthroat trout creek around Leadville CO. That way my nutrients, after passing thru numerous generations of eating and crapping algae, bugs and fish, will eventually flow thru the Arkansas river thru my home state of Oklahoma and then on to the Gulf.

My Dad wants to be fed to wolves, and my brother wants a Viking funeral pyre, complete with horned helmet, in his bass boat.

I'm not sure, but I may be the normal one in my family.

This post has been edited by tsiatkoVS: Mar 11 2008, 11:39 AM