Originally this exhibit was home to monkeys, then at one point there was a polar bear in there ("Velox", a retired circus performer), sea lions, and now coatis. Interestingly enough "the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 decreed that the polar bears and sea lions who had delighted generations of visitors could no longer by housed in the facility" that was known as Bear Mountain. (1995, The Denver Zoo: A Centennial History)
Is that a joke? While this very early adoption of the Hagenbeck style (the first in North America, I believe) is quite well done, a cursory look at the form and texture of this creation tells you this is not "the real thing."
The most amazing thing I've read about this famous exhibit is that at one time it was home to the aforementioned blind polar bear AND sea lions, together! They must have kept Velox very well-fed.....
In the zoo's centennial history book there are some fabulous photos that show the creation of this structure, and it opened in 1918. "The structure is built entirely of concrete, tied to heavy steel girders and reinforced where necessary". Beneath the gigantic rock in the above photo is a system of thick steel girders that are revealed in the history book.
Is that a joke? While this very early adoption of the Hagenbeck style (the first in North America, I believe) is quite well done, a cursory look at the form and texture of this creation tells you this is not "the real thing."
The most amazing thing I've read about this famous exhibit is that at one time it was home to the aforementioned blind polar bear AND sea lions, together! They must have kept Velox very well-fed.....
Funny that you mentioned that. When the zoo was adding the sea lions they thought that Velox would have no chance because she was blind. They were wrong. The surviving sea lion was moved to a different part of the zoo.
