94 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1948 
zoos and private and public agencies regarding structures for keep- 
ing and housing animals; cooperation with other agencies of the 
Federal, State, and Municipal governments in research work. 
NEEDS OF THE ZOO 
The two chief needs of the Zoo are: 1, sufficient funds for a minor 
increase in personnel and to provide for proper care of the animals and 
the maintenance of the establishment in a presentable condition; 2, 
new buildings to replace antiquated structures that have long since 
ceased to be suitable for the purpose, presentable, or even safe for use. 
The more urgently needed buildings are: (1) a new administration 
building to replace the 143-year-old historic landmark now in use for 
an office building for the Zoo, but which is neither suitably located nor 
well-adapted for the purpose. This building is in an excellent loca- 
tion for a public recreational structure and could probably be rehabili- 
tated and used for recreational purposes, perhaps as a children’s mu- 
seum, and thus maintained asa historic building. The new office build- 
ing should be better located both from the standpoint of accessibility 
to the public and convenience for the administration of the Zoo; (2) 
a new building to house antelopes and other medium-size hoofed ani- 
mals that require a heated building. 
VISITORS 
It had been anticipated that after the war the fluctuation in at- 
tendance during the week would again be pronounced. It has there- 
fore been surprising to note that attendance on early days of the week 
has been relatively high, and the peak attendance of the week ends 
has been less pronounced than before the war. This is probably due 
to continued high employment in the Washington area and to increase 
in travel accompanying the general economic prosperity. 
The total attendance was 3,040,540, an increase in 309,862 over the 
previous year and the second largest year’s attendance the Zoo has 
ever had. 
ESTIMATED NUMBER OF VISITORS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1948 
July (94%) eos ae AS 4 500 Me DLUaT yee eee 98, 250 
PAST SUS beet eee ee S595 200) lac henner eee 300, 590 
September! 2a 297-800) sAprilee eee ee ee 341, 800 
October =e sae aes 232100) Maya ee ee ee 325, 700 
INovember2=22 aes ee TAOS5OO PIUNe = ee eee 385, 600 
Mecembeross2 ee aa aw 110, 500 SSS 
January (1949) 22222 ee 44, 000 Total eee ee 3, 040, 540 
Groups came to the Zoo from schools in 27 States, some as far away 
as Maine, Florida, Texas, and Wisconsin. 
