Inanimate Attractions

Thinking about the Detroit Zoo's water tower, perhaps one of the most recognizable landmarks of the city, I got to thinking about which zoos had very special attractions apart from their living residents, both zoological and botanical.  Some noteworthy attractions I've seen from across the country over the years, some of which I was just as excited to see as the animals at those facilities themselves:

Cincinnati Zoo - Passenger Pigeon Memorial

Cincinnati Zoo has the unfortunate honor of having been home to the last known living specimens of not one but two now-extinct North American birds, the passenger pigeon and the Carolina parakeet (Carolina conure). In the 1970s, it appeared that construction of planned new ape habitats might result in the demolition of these enclosures, so the decision was made to set one of the old bird houses (built in the 1870s and styled as Japanese pagodas) aside as a memorial for these lost species. It's an iconic feature of the zoo and commemorates a tragic moment in zoo history; it begs the question of what might have been if a coordinated effort had been made to save these species. (Worth noting that the last passenger pigeon herself, Martha, is NOT here - her remains are at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC) 

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun

There are some zoos which you could pick up, transplant five states over, and never notice the difference. There are others which are defined by their geography - perhaps their scenery, perhaps their terrain, perhaps both. I always appreciate it when a zoo is evocative of its geography. There are few better examples than Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, literally built on the slopes of a mountain. Overlooking the zoo is the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun, a five-story stone tower that offers a commanding view not only of the zoo, but of the surrounding city and countryside, including the famous Garden of the Gods. Accessing this incredible view means driving through the zoo up a windy road (watch for deer), and is limited to those who have purchased admission to the zoo - some folks buy admission to the zoo solely or predominately for the shrine. Although the tower is named after Will Rogers, it's actually the tomb of Spencer Penrose (responsible for building much of Colorado Spring, including substantial development of the zoo) and his wife. Besides the majestic view, it also features a small but interesting art collection, as well as beautiful gardens.

Los Angeles Zoo - Old Griffith Park Zoo

To be pedantic, this isn't actually *in* the current LA Zoo, but is only a brief walk/drive away

As zoos modernize and develop, there is always the question of what to do with old exhibits. Some zoos renovate them, incorporating historic elements into new exhibits, such as the Bronx Zoo's Lion House being converted to Madagascar!, or St. Louis Zoo incorporating old rockwork into the expanded bear habitats. Some repurpose them into non-animal roles, such as the aforementioned Carnivora Café at Toledo Zoo. And some leave them in place as a reminder of the evolution of zoos. Many zoos across the country have one or two old cages set up as exhibit pieces, but few have something like the old Griffith Park Zoo in Los Angeles.

The old zoo, which opened in 1912, was abandoned with the new facility about 50 years later. All that remains are a few cages and some rockwork to give the impression of former enclosures. It's a very unique site - the closest thing I can think of to this is the old Crandon Park Zoo in Miami. It's a haunting place (which I would imagine would be spooky as heck at night), but a pleasant enough picnic spot during the day. I do feel like it could benefit from some interpretive signage. 

St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoo - Gomek Forever

There's always a challenge to figure out how to commemorate an iconic zoo animal that has passed way. Do you do a plaque? Or how about a statue, such as the one of gorilla Willie B at Zoo Atlanta? Maybe donate the body to a natural history museum, such as Bushman the Lincoln ParkZoo gorilla or Su Lin, the Brookfield Zoo giant panda, both at Chicago's Field Museum?

Perhaps the most interesting commemoration of a passed zoo animal that I can recall is "Gomek Forever," a shrine to St. Augustine Alligator Farm's legendary saltwater crocodile. In a pavilion overlooking the main gator swamp (and not far from the (live) saltwater crocodile habitat) is a shrine to the massive beast, who is preserved for the ages. The building tells the story of the crocodile's life, from his capture in New Guinea to his arrival at SAAF to his ultimate passing. The museum contains an impressive collection of New Guinea artifacts and artwork, including examples pertaining to crocodiles. 

Tulsa Zoo - Statue of Ganesha

I've always been very interested in the idea of presenting animals not only in their ecological context, alongside other animals and plants, but in their cultural context as well (a la Conway's bullfrog paper). While it's a rare zoo that goes all-in on this exhibit concept, some dabble with it, such as the Asian elephant exhibit at Tulsa Zoo, which incorporates a small museum on Asian elephants. Of this, one of the most noteworthy - and unexpectedly controversial - features was a six-foot tall granite statue of the Hindu god Ganesha, located outside Elephant Encounter.

This statue might not have drawn much criticism or controversy if it was in, say, Washington or Massachusetts, but this is Oklahoma. It led to complaints from some members of the public that the zoo was promoting Hinduism. This in turn led to a vocal segment of the community demanding an exhibit on Biblical creationism as a counterbalance (not only to this, but to evolution-themed exhibits elsewhere in the zoo). Such plans did not come to fruition, but the statue (which still stands today) serves as an excellent reminder of the challenges that zoo-based education can run into when it brushes up against politics, religion, and other hot-button social issues.

There is no mention on the signage of the statue about the controversy (after all, why poke the bear and risk starting the whole brouhaha over again?) but for those who know the story, it feels like a little victory to see it still in place. I know that it was one of the sights I was most interested in seeing during my recent trip to Tulsa.