The Museum’s dioramas feature miniature wildlife, farm and prehistoric scenes of animals, birds, and other creatures carved from various gem materials. The figures in the dioramas were carved in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, a major European lapidary center. Many of the animals were carved from a solid block of stone while others are a composite of various stones.

The diorama scenes were put together with children in mind. Each seen depicts animals in a natural setting. The background scenes were painted by Elmhurst artist, David S. Burnside from 1970 to 1998.