If the discovery of buried bones and skeletons of giant creatures contributed to myth and legend the world over, the origins of osteologically-mounted skeletons are rooted in the Renaissance development of anatomy but relatively little information on methods of mounting was published before 1875. The historical review presented here traces the development of these techniques, dealing first with the traditional conservation and mounting methods of articulated human and animal skeletons. The development of paleontology led in turn to research into ways of preserving bones and mounting specimens; this history is followed through step by step until the advent of modern times with the introduction of plastics and polymers. Nowadays the speed and ease of mounting has helped to rekindle interest in exhibiting some of the more spectacular specimens in museums throughout the world. See also AATA 21-2331 by the same author (Materials used for conserving fossil specimens since 1930: a review).