BGuthrie Photos: DC -- Natl Zoological Park -- Signage: 125th Anniversary

DC -- Natl Zoological Park -- Signage: 125th Anniversary:

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Copyrights: All pictures were taken by amateur photographer Bruce Guthrie (me!) who retains copyright on them. Free for non-commercial use with attribution. See the [Creative Commons] definition of what this means. "Photos (c) Bruce Guthrie" is fine for attribution. (Commercial use folks including AI scrapers can of course contact me.) Feel free to use in publications and pages with attribution but you don't have permission to sell the photos themselves. A free copy of any printed publication using any photographs is requested. Descriptive text, if any, is from a mixture of sources, quite frequently from signs at the location or from official web sites; copyrights, if any, are retained by their original owners.

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[4] SIN125_160527_015.JPG	[5] SIN125_160527_019.JPG	[6] SIN125_160527_023.JPG
[7] SIN125_160527_028.JPG	[8] SIN125_160527_035.JPG	[9] SIN125_160527_044.JPG
[10] SIN125_160527_047.JPG	[11] SIN125_160527_061.JPG	[12] SIN125_160527_067.JPG
[13] SIN125_160527_071.JPG	[14] SIN125_160527_080.JPG	[15] SIN125_160527_084.JPG
[16] SIN125_160527_091.JPG	[17] SIN125_160527_094.JPG	[18] SIN125_160527_097.JPG
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[25] SIN125_160527_125.JPG	[26] SIN125_160527_131.JPG	[27] SIN125_160527_136.JPG
[28] SIN125_160527_141.JPG	[29] SIN125_160527_142.JPG	[30] SIN125_160527_145.JPG
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[34] SIN125_160527_171.JPG	[35] SIN125_160527_177.JPG	[36] SIN125_160527_189.JPG
[37] SIN125_160527_193.JPG	[38] SIN125_160527_198.JPG	[39] SIN125_160527_201.JPG
[40] SIN125_160527_211.JPG	[41] SIN125_160527_218.JPG	[42] SIN125_160527_221.JPG
[43] SIN125_160527_223.JPG	[44] SIN125_160527_226.JPG

Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. SIN125_160527_001.JPG: Smithsonian's National Zoo -- 125 Years The O-Line: In 1995, the Zoo debuted the O-Line, a series of towers and vine-like cables. It allows our orangutans to travel between the Great Ape House and Think Tank, if they choose to do so. Still innovative today, the O-Line is the only "orangutan transport system" of its kind.
2. SIN125_160527_005.JPG: Smithsonian's National Zoo -- 125 Years It's Our 125th Birthday! The Zoo began 125 years ago out of a concern to save wildlife. The American bison was nearly extinct and other North American animals were threatened. Today, the Zoo cares for about 2,000 animals and saves species from all over the world. William T. Hornaday, Chief Taxidermist at the Smithsonian Institution, proposed the creation of a refuge for America's vanishing animals. President Cleveland signed a bill establishing the National Zoological Park on March 2, 1889 -- our birthday. Note the purpose of the new zoo: "for the advancement of science and the instruction and recreation of the people." These goals still guide us today.
3. SIN125_160527_012.JPG: Smithsonian's National Zoo -- 125 Years
4. SIN125_160527_015.JPG: 1886: After witnessing the near extinction of bison, scientist William Hornaday works with the Smithsonian to create a national zoo. 1889: President Grover Cleveland signs a bill to establish the National Zoo for the purpose of saving animals from extinction. 1891: The National Zoo officially opens to the public. 1892: The Zoo's first permanent building is completed, housing almost all the animals. It later becomes the Lion House. 1937: The Zoo unveils a new Elephant House. Fully updated in 2013, it becomes the Elephant Community Center. 1939: The Zoo turns 50 as World War II breaks out in Europe. The Zoo does its part as keepers and other employees go to war. 1950: Rescued from a blaze, Smokey Bear becomes a living symbol of the United State's [sic] campaign to prevent forest fires and comes to live at the Zoo. 1958: Concerned Washingtonians form Friends of the National Zoo to raise funds for much-needed repairs.
5. SIN125_160527_019.JPG: 1892: The Zoo's first permanent building is completed, housing almost all the animals. It later becomes the Lion House. 1937: The Zoo unveils a new Elephant House. Fully updated in 2013, it becomes the Elephant Community Center. 1939: The Zoo turns 50 as World War II breaks out in Europe. The Zoo does its part as keepers and other employees go to war. 1950: Rescued from a blaze, Smokey Bear becomes a living symbol of the United State's [sic] campaign to prevent forest fires and comes to live at the Zoo. 1958: Concerned Washingtonians form Friends of the National Zoo to raise funds for much-needed repairs. 1972: The Zoo pioneers a program to breed golden lion tamarins and reintroduce them to the rainforests of Brazil. 1972: First Lady Pat Nixon formally welcomes giant pandas Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, gifts from the People's Republic of China. Panda mania ensues!
6. SIN125_160527_023.JPG: 1886: After witnessing the near extinction of bison, scientist William Hornaday works with the Smithsonian to create a national zoo. 1889: President Grover Cleveland signs a bill to establish the National Zoo for the purpose of saving animals from extinction. 1891: The National Zoo officially opens to the public. 1892: The Zoo's first permanent building is completed, housing almost all the animals. It later becomes the Lion House. 1937: The Zoo unveils a new Elephant House. Fully updated in 2013, it becomes the Elephant Community Center. 1939: The Zoo turns 50 as World War II breaks out in Europe. The Zoo does its part as keepers and other employees go to war. 1950: Rescued from a blaze, Smokey Bear becomes a living symbol of the United State's [sic] campaign to prevent forest fires and comes to live at the Zoo. 1958: Concerned Washingtonians form Friends of the National Zoo to raise funds for much-needed repairs. 1972: The Zoo pioneers a program to breed golden lion tamarins and reintroduce them to the rainforests of Brazil. 1972: First Lady Pat Nixon formally welcomes giant pandas Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, gifts from the People's Republic of China. Panda mania ensues!
7. SIN125_160527_028.JPG: 1973: The Zoo acquires 3,200 acres in Virginia to study and save rare species, known today as the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. 1988: The Zoo helps black-footed ferrets rebound from near extinction. Today more than 1,000 live in the wild. 1991: The Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center pens and soars to international prominence for its research and conservation work. 1992: Komodo dragons hatch at the Zoo, for the first time ever outside Indonesia. 1999: Zoo researchers spearhead efforts to combat chytrid, a deadly fungus that threatens one-third of amphibian species. 2001: Kandula, a male Asian elephant, is born. His birth reflects Zoo scientists' growing understanding of elephant reproduction. 2005: Tai Shan is born. He becomes the first giant panda cub in Zoo history to live into adulthood. 2012: The Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, a partnership between the Zoo and George Mason University, opens to the first class of students. 2013: Bao Bao is born. She is the Zoo's second healthy giant panda cub, and growing strong!
8. SIN125_160527_035.JPG: Smithsonian's National Zoo -- 125 Years House Remodeling: Animal enclosures have changed over time, evolving from mere "housing" to more natural and enriching environments. The Zoo's 2013 renovation of the 1937 Elephant House to an Elephant Community Center makes room for indoor socializing and playing for our growing, multi-generational elephant herd. The Elephant Community Center (ECC) is a renovated and expanded Elephant House. Skylights open for fresh air, four feet of sand cushions the flooring, and a wading pool has an elephant-operated shower. "This building demonstrates our strong commitment to making sure that Asian elephants are here for future generations." -- Dennis Kelly, National Zoo Director
9. SIN125_160527_044.JPG: Smithsonian's National Zoo -- 125 Years House Remodeling: Animal enclosures have changed over time, evolving from mere "housing" to more natural and enriching environments. The Zoo's 2013 renovation of the 1937 Elephant House to an Elephant Community Center makes room for indoor socializing and playing for our growing, multi-generational elephant herd. In 1903, this brick building, the original Elephant House, replaced a temporary wooden shed for elephants.
10. SIN125_160527_047.JPG: The Elephant Community Center (ECC) is a renovated and expanded Elephant House. Skylights open for fresh air, four feet of sand cushions the flooring, and a wading pool has an elephant-operated shower. "This building demonstrates our strong commitment to making sure that Asian elephants are here for future generations." -- Dennis Kelly, National Zoo Director The "Pachyderm House" replaced the old Elephant House in 1937. The yards of this Elephant House featured moated exhibits for the first time.
11. SIN125_160527_061.JPG: Smithsonian's National Zoo -- 125 Years
12. SIN125_160527_067.JPG: Designing Environments: From buildings that welcome visitors through ornate entrances to naturalistic habitats around which you can wander, the Zoo's animal environments reflect changing attitudes toward form and function. Today, the mosaic about the Bird House is gone, but other pieces of history can still be found within the Zoo's more modern landscape.
13. SIN125_160527_080.JPG: Enjoying the Extraordinary: The Zoo has been home to some truly remarkable animals -- Dunk, the Asian elephant who used to swim in Rock Creek; Smoke Bear, an orphaned black bear rescued from a New Mexico forest fire; and Ham, the first primate in space.
14. SIN125_160527_097.JPG: Ham Male Chimpanzee Received April 2, 1963 On January 31, 1961 Ham rocketed through space in front of an 83-foot Redstone rocket for a 16-minute ride which lofted him 155 miles high and 420 miles down the Atlantic missile range from Cape Kennedy, Florida. During his ride, he experienced 4-1/2 minutes of weightlessness and a peak speed of 5,800 miles per hour before landing successfully as a pioneer explorer in the US Project Mercury Space Program.
15. SIN125_160527_102.JPG: Bringing About Laughter The Zoo has provided unexpected laughs across the years. The police were once based at the Lion House... making for instructions for parents of lost children. Neighbors have not always fully appreciated the diverse (and sometimes noisy) creatures that have lived here.
16. SIN125_160527_106.JPG: A Complaint to the Zoo: I live one-half mile from the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park in Northwest Washington. Every morning and afternoon, I'm disturbed by a loud noise that sounds like Tarzan playing the bagpipes. It must be one of your animals. Does it have to make that noise? Is something wrong?
17. SIN125_160527_112.JPG: Ripley's Believe It or Not! Sign in the Washington Zoo: Lost Children will be taken to Lion House
18. SIN125_160527_116.JPG: Lost Children & articles found will be taken to the Lion House Losses should be reported there
19. SIN125_160527_125.JPG: I was afraid you might not see this in the Star last night, and I wanted that you should see it. While the zoo made a good contribution, I think it could be doubled and tripled. Now you have the authority of the President of the US himself -- his direction in fact -- to get all non-used metals; including I should say, a bronze anteater and all cage bars piled in the weeds, lo these many years past -- waiting for what???? This, today, is what it MUST HAVE BEEN SAVED FOR. Its as much mine as anybody's, which emboldens me to say these things; I helped pay for it because I have always paid my taxes. [The article is about collecting metal for the war drive.]
20. SIN125_160527_131.JPG: Reaching the World: Unimaginable 125 years ago, today's technology allows people around the world to see what's happening at the Zoo in real-time from wherever they are. In 2013, more than two million people watched our panda cub Bao Bao through the Zoo's webcams before she ever made a public debut.
21. SIN125_160527_136.JPG: Looking for Animals The Zoo's animal-focused artwork reflects aesthetics that vary over time. Around the Park are stylized animal figures from the 1930s to today's more realistic sculptures. At the animal exhibits, you can see a rich assemblage of illustrations from hand-drawn pen-and-inks to richly colored watercolors to 21st century digital creations.
22. SIN125_160527_158.JPG: Connecting with Visitors For generations, the Zoo has appealed to tourists and Washingtonians alike. Our events have brought in a wide range of enthusiasts -- avid photographers, dedicated birders, families looking for unique experiences, and millions of people who want to learn more about animals and their conservation.
23. SIN125_160527_171.JPG: Smithsonian's National Zoo -- 125 Years A Trail Transformed: As you walk downhill from here, glimpse through the woods on your right to see the Zoo's other main path, which is also a new exhibit highlight the magnificent wildlife diversity of North America. In 2012, the old Valley Trail became American Trail. American Trail was designed with sustainability in mind: ozone systems to clean pool water without harsh chemicals; automated controls to save water and reduce energy use; filters to keep water quality high and save thousands of gallons from going down the drain!
24. SIN125_160527_177.JPG: Smithsonian's National Zoo -- 125 Years Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute: The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI), previously established as the Conservation and Research Center in 1973, is a research and training leader in veterinary medicine, reproductive physiology and conservation biology. SCBI breeding advances for the scimitar-horned oryx, a desert antelope, contribute to a conservation model to avert the species' extinction.
25. SIN125_160527_189.JPG: Smithsonian's National Zoo -- 125 Years The O-Line: In 1995, the Zoo debuted the O-Line, a series of towers and vine-like cables. It allows our orangutans to travel between the Great Ape House and Think Tank, if they choose to do so. Still innovative today, the O-Line is the only "orangutan transport system" of its kind.
26. SIN125_160527_193.JPG: Smithsonian's National Zoo -- 125 Years Easter Monday: For well over a century, the Monday following Easter has been an African American family celebration at the Zoo. Rich in culture and history, Easter Monday continues as a Washington tradition, with music, games, and family-focused activities. As early as 1906, Easter Monday drew crowds of up to 28,000 visitors for egg rolling on the Zoo's many hills. The Zoo continues the Easter Monday tradition today, with egg hunts and fun activities.
27. SIN125_160527_201.JPG: Smithsonian's National Zoo -- 125 Years Olmsted Walk: Evolved from carriageway to walkway, our main visitor path was named for Frederick Law Olmsted, the renowned landscape architect who designed the basic layout and flow of the Zoo. Olmsted's legacy is found in the green spaces, natural atmosphere and curves that create changing views with a focus on landscape, not architecture. In the late 1880s, Frederick Law Olmsted was approached by the Smithsonian to provide "preliminary counsel" for designing the National Zoo. Olmsted is said to have replied promptly and enthusiastically, saying the area selected for the Zoo was one of great natural beauty which he had known for 30 years and had hoped would be turned into a park.
28. SIN125_160527_211.JPG: Smithsonian's National Zoo -- 125 Years It's Our 125th Birthday! The Zoo began 125 years ago out of a concern to save wildlife. The American bison was nearly extinct and other North American animals were threatened. Today, the Zoo cares for about 2,000 animals and saves species from all over the world. William T. Hornaday, Chief Taxidermist at the Smithsonian Institution, proposed the creation of a refuge for America's vanishing animals. President Cleveland signed a bill establishing the National Zoological Park on March 2, 1889 -- our birthday. Note the purpose of the new zoo: "for the advancement of science and the instruction and recreation of the people." These goals still guide us today.
29. SIN125_160527_218.JPG: Schoolchildren visiting the Zoo, 1898
30. SIN125_160527_221.JPG: Inside the Lion House, 1910
31. SIN125_160527_223.JPG: The original Monkey House, 1909
32. SIN125_160527_226.JPG: Entering the Zoo in the early 1900s meant crossing through Rock Creek
AAA "Gem": AAA considers this location to be a "must see" point of interest. To see pictures of other areas that AAA considers to be Gems, click here.
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