ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



.563 



THE ELEPHANT HOUSE. 



OF the building operations in the Zoological 

 Park, the most important single feature is 

 the Elephant House. Of ten years con- 

 struction work, it is the climax; and it is fitting- 

 ly 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 slightly separated. 



We believe that this effort represents high- 

 water mark in zoological building construction. 

 It is spacious, well lighted, beautiful in its lines, 

 both externally and internally, beautifully orna- 

 mented without being overdone, and also wholly 

 free from useless extravagance. The interior 

 lighting and cage "effects" are highly satisfac- 

 tory, the light upon the animals being quite suf- 

 ficient, without being too strong and glaring. 

 It is clearly evident that the animals enjoy their 

 cages ; for were it otherwise, the African rhino- 

 ceros would not, almost daily, gallop round and 

 round, and with ponderous agility often leap 

 into the air. 



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 covered 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 struc- 

 ture is of smoothly dressed Indiana limestone. 

 Each entrance consists of a lofty and dignified 

 archway, in which the doors are deeply recessed; 

 and each of these arches is grandly ornamented 

 by animal heads, sculptured in stone. 



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 eve. Combined with 

 the vaulted ceilings of the main halls and the 

 cages there are a few strong arches of mottled 

 buff brick which harmonize perfectly 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 



constructed b}' Gustavino without the employ- 

 ment of either the steel rafters or ribs which one 

 naturally expects to see in such structures. 



Each of the eight immense cages, that to-day 

 contain elephants and rhinoceroses, has been de- 

 signed to frame and display its living occupant 

 as perfectly as a frame fits a picture. The 

 vaulted ceilings and large central skylights are 

 particularly well adapted to cages for extra 

 large animals, and the lighting is quite perfect. 

 The front of each cage — 24 feet — is spanned 

 aloft by a single Gustavino arch, and is un- 

 spoiled by intermediate columns. Each cage is 

 24 x 24 feet, which is ample for elephants and 

 rhinoceroses of the largest size. To a height of 

 6 feet the walls are lined with plates of quarter- 

 inch steel; and nothing less powerful than a 

 locomotive could break through or break down 

 the front bars and beams. The outside doors 

 are marvels of strength and smoothness in ac- 

 tion. They are of four-inch oak, reinforced 

 with quarter-inch steel plates, and on the inside 

 they are strengthened against attack by three 

 heavy movable beams of steel. 



The ground plan, and all cage and yard ar- 

 rangements of the Elephant House, were de- 

 signed by the Director of the Zoological Park. 

 The architects were Messrs. Heins & La Farge. 

 The animal sculptures on the southern half of 

 the building were executed by A. Phimister 

 Proctor, and those on the north half are by 

 Charles R. Knight. The building was erected by 

 the F. T. Nesbit Company, with John C. Coffey 

 as Superintendent of Construction. The steel 

 fences enclosing the yards were designed by 

 George M. Beerbower, Civil Engineer of the 

 Zoological Park staff, and the macadam and 

 masonry construction work in the yards and 

 surrounding walks was performed by our own 

 force, under the direction of Hermann W. 

 Merkel, Chief Constructor. 



The total cost of the building was $157,473, 

 and of the surrounding yards, fences and walks 

 $27,159, making for the entire installation a 

 total of $184,632. This is $16,000 less than 

 the original estimate. 



The Elephant House contains a surpassingly 

 fine and valuable collection, consisting of 2 In- 

 dian Elephants, 2 Sudan African Elephants, 1 

 Congo African Elephant, 1 Great Indian Rhino- 

 ceros, 2 African Black Rhinoceroses, 1 Hippo- 

 potamus, 2 American Tapirs and 1 Indian 

 Tapir. 



