Then and Now: Anteater statue at the National Zoo

Historic

Then and Now: Anteater statue at the National Zoo

by Kent Boese • December 29, 2009 3:03 pm

The giant anteater statue in front of the Small Mammal House at the National Zoo has been at that location since it was unveiled on March 25, 1938. The historic image captures the moment shortly after that unveiling. The bronze statue is six feet long and three feet high. The participants at the unveiling are identified (from left to right) as sculptor Edwin Springweiler, Dr. Alexander Wetmore of the Smithsonian Institution (who unveiled the sculpture), Head Keeper William Blackburn, and Dr. William M. Mann, Director of the National Zoological Park.

Historic image from the Library of Congress, Harris & Ewing Collection.

5 comments — Share	— tags: DC, historic comparison, National Zoo, Woodley Park

Then and Now: 15th Street outside the Treasury (Jan 12, 2010)
Then and Now: Entrance of the National Zoo (Dec 14, 2009)
Then and Then and Now: Harris & Ewing Studio (Oct 23, 2009)
Then and then and now: Hopkins-Miller (May 14, 2009)
Then and Now: 3615 Warder (Apr 15, 2009)

Comments

There's a more interesting sculpture elsewhere in the zoo - of an eagle - I think it came from New York City's old Penn Station - don't have any pix, but will try to get some soon!

by michael on Dec 29, 2009 6:11 pm

I'd enjoy seeing the eagle sculpture. Thank you for mentioning it.

by Kent on Dec 29, 2009 9:25 pm

I had visited it before few months. I really like the sculptures. I feel them like they will just gonna be alive like a holywood movie

by Camping food on Dec 30, 2009 7:45 am

Thanks for the background on the anteater statue, very interesting.

The eagle just outside the bird house is one of the surviving Penn Station eagles, one of a handful still around (7 by my count, but there may be more). I have no idea why it's at the zoo, but if anyone does know, I'd love to find out.

by TimK on Dec 30, 2009 8:55 am

I wish George Washington University would move its hippo statue from the main campus in Foggy Bottom to the Zoo!

by Colonial on Jan 1, 2010 12:23 am