A complete I'inv of the 

 rotunda, taken with a "fish 

 eye" lens in the late 1970s. 

 The banners to each of the 

 halls are in place, and an 

 information desk is on the 

 floor. The mounting annuid 

 the elephant has heoi 

 changed — he now is walking 

 through grass. 



squid in a very large tank of alcohol — the first ever 

 displayed in a museum. 



Beginning with the first Smithsonian Christmas party, 

 the rotunda has been the site of a number of memorable 

 festivities held by many groups besides the Institution, 

 especially the GOP. It has been common practice to 

 decorate the elephant, and if it were not dead already, 

 some of the garish displays might have killed it. One 

 year when helium balloons were used, a few came loose 

 and clung to the dome for several days before losing 

 gas and descending. True scientists are tireless seekers 

 after knowledge, and observers at the time noted that 

 after a brief whiff of helium, one person's "Mickey 

 Mouse" voice was much the same as another's. 



In 1967 Paul Garber organized the first Smithsonian 

 kite day, and the rotunda was festooned with kites. Ten 

 years later, at the suggestion of Harry Hart, then head 

 of Exhibits, "colorful banners showing the title and 

 stylized symbol of a hall were hung at entrances to 

 exhibit halls. The baiuiers identify each hall, add a note 

 of gaiety and warmth to the rotunda's gray granite 

 facade, and make it easier for the visitor to find his way 

 through the Museiuii without becoming lost or con- 

 fused.'"" I he rotunda is not granite-trimmed, and some 



tourists get confused no matter what, but the banners 

 are a fine touch. 



This leads to one last rotunda story, dating from the 

 1930s. At one time there was a revolving door into the 

 rotunda, but during the summer it was removed and 

 the other doors were propped open to let some air into 

 the building. Many pigeons flew in and made them- 

 selves at home up in the dome. This nuisance was tol- 

 erated until the wife of a congressman got splattered 

 by a pigeon passing overhead. Something had to be 

 done, and Perrygo was assigned the job of correcting 

 the problem. 



A few days later he appeared at the Museimi very 

 early, with his shotgun, and got a number of the birds. 

 One pigeon swooped into the gem and mineral hall 

 with Perrygo in hot piu suit. Althcjugh the building su- 

 perintendent was supposed to have notified everyone, 

 the guard on duly there had not been told. When this 

 man with a shotgun came riuuiing in, the guard went 

 running out for reinforcements. Moments later, swarms 

 of guards with pistols drawn were on the scene. For- 

 tunately, one of the sergeants from the day shift rec- 

 ognized Perrygo before shots were fired by either 

 side. □ 



Public Places 



189 



