The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore Maryland Zoo News 2021
- Thread starter red river hog
- Start date
Aardwolf
Well-Known Member
The Round Cage is often called the oldest cage in the zoo, but it's not -it's a replacement of a bear cage that was previously on that site (though it's still a pretty old cage, dating back to the 1890s). The oldest animal structure in the zoo (if we're discounting the Mansion House, now an admin building but historically a bird and primate building) is the Round Stand, most recently used as a concession building, but originally the zoo's all-purpose small animal building with monkeys, birds, snakes, civets, etc. It hasn't been used for animals since the 1920s.
Where is this information from?
Aardwolf
Well-Known Member
The Annual Park Reports for the City of Baltimore, from 1876 through the early 1900s. Up until the 1980s, the Zoo was managed by the City of Baltimore and submitted an annual report to the Parks Board, concerning progress (construction, notable deaths and births, etc). Before reading those, I'd also thought that the Round Cage was the oldest (and original) structure in the Zoo.
Even I haven't looked up those before, and I tend to read stuff like that
What was your interest in it? The zoo, including the education department, are still saying it's the original cage.
Even I haven't looked up those before, and I tend to read stuff like that
Since we have some Baltimore Zoo historians in the house, when was the zoo's UFO giraffe barn built?
Aardwolf
Well-Known Member
1967. The money that was used to build the giraffe house was supposed to go to a new elephant house, but Arthur Watson had a tendency to get what he wanted...
The first giraffes were a mixed herd of Congolese, purchased in the states, and Angolans, captured by Watson on safari.
Aardwolf
Well-Known Member
I have a very long history with Maryland Zoo, dating back to when it was The Baltimore Zoo, and I've devoted a lot of time to researching its history. As old as the zoo is, there's never been too much interest in a study of its past, which is a pity, because it really has some fascinating stories - some crazy anecdotes, and some animals that you'd never suspect of finding there and which very few facilities have anymore, some that no one has, anywhere (their work with aardwolves, among other things, was very impressive - my profile pic is actually the last of the Maryland Zoo aardwolves). I remember back when the Valley was full of animals and the Reptile House and Mammal House were open. I hope that the reopening of the Valley rekindles interest in the history of the zoo and encourages people to explore it in a little more depth.Even I haven't looked up those before, and I tend to read stuff like that
The Giraffe House actually opened in 1965 (per the zoo's website) and cost approximately $200,000.
It does look a bit like a UFO and here is my photo from 2010:
On a side note, a year later (1966) Kansas City Zoo built its iconic, UFO-like Great Ape House but it was demolished in 2015.
Aardwolf
Well-Known Member
The Giraffe House actually opened in 1965 (per the zoo's website) and cost approximately $200,000.
It does look a bit like a UFO and here is my photo from 2010:
I think that's when construction started, the first giraffes arrived a little later. A director of the zoo who came after the building was completed (and not involved in the process) referred to it as a giant concrete yurt.
It's such an interesting zoo, maybe you could put together a book? The zoo finally seems interested in putting out a lot of that history, with the valley opening. They sent out a survey a year or so ago and re-opening the valley was one of the most wanted things, so there's definitely interest by the public there! A lot of people have memories of the place.
Aardwolf
Well-Known Member
Just double checked my notes this morning. Ground was broken at the end of 1965, the first giraffes were obtained at the end of 1966, the Angolans were collected at the beginning of 1967 (arrived months later due to quarantine), and the building was opened April 1, 1967.The Giraffe House actually opened in 1965 (per the zoo's website) and cost approximately $200,000.
It does look a bit like a UFO and here is my photo from 2010:
On a side note, a year later (1966) Kansas City Zoo built its iconic, UFO-like Great Ape House but it was demolished in 2015.
Thanks for the update...you really should write a book! Also, the zoo needs to alter its website information.
The Main Valley officially opened today. The last section of the press release gives some additional details on some of the historic structures. Kirby Fowler, the recently hired Zoo CEO, stated at the end that the zoo has launched a planning process to consider ways to accommodate animals in the future. Some of those older cages and yards would make for some nice bird exhibits, I would think.
A Walk Through History: The Zoo Reopens Main Valley | The Maryland Zoo
A Walk Through History: The Zoo Reopens Main Valley | The Maryland Zoo
Last edited:
Thanks for the article link. When was the last time that the zoo had hippos? The article says that a hippo house was built in 1967. Does that structure still exist at the zoo?
Aardwolf
Well-Known Member
No, the 1967 Hippo House was torn down. Penguin Coast now occupies the site, with the old outdoor Nile hippo exhibit being the current American flamingo exhibit. Both Nile and pygmy hippo were phased out in 2001.
No, the structure was demolished some time ago. @Aardwolf would know the exact date, I'd imagine. The lot where the former hippo house stood remained empty, but was used as an animal education area before Penguin Coast was constructed and opened in 2014. The last Nile hippo they had was Peaches and moved to NC in 1994. The former hippo house also housed pigmy hippos, crocodiles (slender snouted I believe) and was the winter quarters for lesser flamingos and pink-backed pelicans.
@Aardwolf beat me to it, @DavidBrown !
SaritaWolf
Well-Known Member
Wait, Maryland Zoo used to have pygmy hippos? I have this memory of seeing a pygmy hippo: walking into a hippo house with the pygmy hippos inside an exhibit on the right, and one was in the water. It would have likely been between 1995 and 2005. I always thought the memory was of the National Zoo but could it have been the Maryland Zoo?
Aardwolf
Well-Known Member
Yes, Baltimore actually used to have the biggest collection of pygmy hippos in the states, breeding lots of them. In the late 1960's and early 1970's, the zoo launched several expeditions to Liberia, not only bringing back pygmy hippos, but golden cats, Picathartes, slender-snout crocs, and a lot of other species.
Easiest way to tell if you were thinking of Baltimore or National - could you actually see anything? National's Elephant House was/is pretty light and airy, with the pygmy hippos pretty much on ground level. Baltimore's Hippo House was very dark. All of the exhibits were on one side of the building (straight ahead when you walked in), seen from an overlook. I think I only ever got a single photo of a pygmy hippo in that building that was worth keeping.