Elmer the mastodon is moving to a new home.
Oakland Community College announced that the skeleton of its Groleau-White Lake Mastodon, nicknamed “Elmer,” will be transferred to the Cranbrook Institute of Science and under a long-term loan agreement.
Elmer has inspired generations of OCC students as a fixture on the upper floors of Levinson Hall on the Highland Lakes campus.
Crews will disassemble Elmer and transport him to Cranbrook during the week of June 22.
Elmer is the skeleton of an adult American mastodon (Mammut americanum) that lived more than 10,000 years ago during the late Ice Age. The skeleton was discovered on March 11, 1968 during construction along M-59 between Elizabeth Lake and Williams Lake roads.
Standing approximately 12 feet tall and measuring 22 feet long, Elmer is estimated to have weighed 5.5 tons in life. Today, the mounted skeleton weighs approximately 885 pounds.
Elmer earned his nickname from the Elmer’s glue used during preservation to help stabilize his bones and prevent cracking—a practical solution that became a lasting piece of his identity.
“OCC has been proud to care for Elmer for nearly 50 years, and more people in our community, beyond our campus, should have the chance to experience him up close,” said Peter Provenzano, OCC’s chancellor. “Cranbrook partnered with OCC in the early 1980s when Elmer was reconstructed, so it’s especially fitting that we share a vision for his future.”
Following reconstruction work and preparation, the mastodon will be displayed as a centerpiece for a future exhibition anticipated to open next summer.
“This partnership allows us to preserve an important piece of Michigan’s natural history while expanding access to it for a broader audience,” said Lucy Hale, director of Cranbrook Institute of Science. “Elmer has inspired generations of students, and we are excited to continue that legacy at Cranbrook through new research, interpretation, and exhibition.”
For more information visit https://science.cranbrook.edu/elmer.