OF the building operations in the Zoological 

 Park, the most important single feature is 

 the "new" Elephant House.* Of ten years 

 of building work, it is the climax ; and it is fit- 

 tingly crowned with a dome. It is situated on 

 the site prepared for it by Nature, and chosen 

 twelve years ago, on the axis of Baird Court, 

 and in the open space midway between the Court 

 and the Wolf Dens. In effect, it connects the 

 two great groups of installations of the north- 

 ern and southern regions of the Park, which un- 

 til now have been slight- 

 ly separated. 



In several important 

 particulars the Elephant 

 House is unlike all other 

 buildings in the Park. 

 It is high ; it is entered 

 at the center of each 

 side, instead of at each 

 end ; it is built entirely 

 of stone ; it has a main 

 roof of green tiles, and 

 has a lofty dome cov- 

 ered with glazed tiles 

 laid in an elaborate 

 color pattern of browns 

 and greens. The dome 

 is finally surmounted by 

 a "lantern" of elaborate 

 tile work, also in colors. 

 Excepting the dome, the 

 whole exterior structure 

 is of smoothly dressed 

 Indiana limestone. Each 



* We have been calling it 

 "new," because previous to 

 its completion, the thou- 

 sands of visitors who in- 

 quired for "the Elephant 

 House" were directed to 

 the Antelope House, where 

 the elephants were tempo- 

 rarily quartered. 



HEAD OF INDIAN ELEPHANT, SOUTH FACADE. 

 The Sculptor, A. Phimister Proctor, at Work. 



entrance consists of a lofty and dignified arch- 

 way, in which the doors are deeply recessed ; 

 and each of these arches is grandly ornamented 

 by animal heads, sculptured in stone. The lines 

 of the exterior of the building are imposing. 



The color effects of the interior are particu- 

 larly pleasing. The large, flat bricks of the 

 Gustavino arch system are in their natural col- 

 ors, and form a blending of soft brown and 

 buff shades that not only avoids monotony, 

 but is pleasing and restful to the eye. Com- 

 bined witli the vaulted 

 ceilings of the main 

 halls and the cages there 

 are a few strong arches 

 of mottled buff brick 

 which harmonize per- 

 fectly with the ceiling 

 tiles of the main dome. 

 This scheme of vaulted 

 ceilings is so new that 

 few persons ever have 

 seen a finished example. 

 Both the main dome, 

 and the arched ceiling 

 below it, have been con- 

 structed by Gustavino 

 without the employment 

 of either the steel raft- 

 ers or ribs which one 

 naturally expects to see 

 in such structures. 



The animal sculptures 

 on the Elephant House 

 are of commanding in- 

 terest and importance, 

 and well worthy of the 

 stately building that 

 they adorn. In the 

 sculptor's competition 

 which was held last year, 

 the work of Messrs. 

 A. P. Proctor and 



