For someone who has it all

CHICAGO – What do a T-Rex skull, two stuffed elephants and a meteorite from Australia have in common?

They are among the more than 20 popular exhibits included in an adopt-an-artifact program begun this month by Chicago’s Field Museum.

Money raised from individuals or corporations will go toward the museum’s endowment fund, now around $290 million, said Sheila Cawley, the museum’s official in charge of the new sponsorship program.

Donors get their names placed near the exhibit, a meeting with a scientist linked to it, an original work of art and mention on the museum’s Web site, Cawley said. The sponsorships start at $25,000 and run as high as $2.5 million for exclusive association with the two African elephants acquired by the museum in 1909.

Sponsoring Bushman the gorilla will cost $1 million. The now-stuffed animal was a big draw at Lincoln Park Zoo until his death in 1951. The body of the 550-pound lowland gorilla was donated to the museum and became a permanent exhibit in 1952.

The skull of Sue the T-Rex, one of the Field Museum’s best known pieces, and two man-eating Tsavo lions also will cost sponsors $1 million.

Less expensive sponsorships include the Gladstone meteorite from Australia and a Tibetan statue with multiple arms, which each cost $25,000.

The values are roughly linked to an object’s fame and size, Cawley said.