The Elephant House at National Zoo was built in 1936-37 with a grant from the Public Works Administration (PWA). At the time, it was known as the Pachyderm House; it is also sometimes called the Large Mammal House. The… read more
The Public Works Administration (PWA) funded a Small Mammal House at the National Zoo, constructed in 1937. It was one of several buildings paid for by the PWA and many other improvements made at the zoo by New Deal relief… read more
In 1937, Domenico Mortellito painted habitat background murals for the Bird House and the Pachyderm (Elephant) House and added murals to the zoo restaurant. These murals were commissioned by the Treasury Relief Art Project (TRAP), which aimed to put unemployed… read more
From 1933 to 1941, New Deal relief workers added a number of new animal exhibit areas to the National Zoo, as well as improving existing enclosures. The following are sketches of the significant work performed at a dozen areas, taken… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) improved Harvard St. around the entrance to the National Zoo in 1935-36.
The Public Works Administration (PWA) funded the building for a restaurant at National Zoo, constructed in 1939-40. The restaurant building still serves the public today as the Mane Cafe. In its 1939 fiscal year report, the National Zoo noted: “The Public… read more
The Machine and Carpenter Shops building was constructed at the National Zoo in 1936-37, with a grant from the Public Works Administration (PWA). The PWA paid for four buildings and other improvements to the zoo in the 1930s. In 1938,… read more
The New Deal years 1933 to 1941 were arguably the best years in the history of the National Zoo, thanks to the many projects undertaken by the Roosevelt Administration. Labor was provided by work-relief programs — the Civil Works Administration… read more
The south wing of the Bird House at National Zoo – which had been left off the original building in 1927-28 – was constructed in 1936 with funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA). It completed the the imposing, Romanesque… read more
Charles R. Knight produced a frieze of Pre-Historic Animals inside the Large Mammal House at the National Zoo in 1937. They were cast in aluminum by the Manhattan Terrazzo Brass Strip Company. On the floor are roundels by Knight in marble… read more
The winning titles and authors have been announced. The 2023 Award, with a prize of $1,000, will be presented at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library June 22, 2024.