THOMAS RINGLAND STOCKDALE

The Smithsonian had started a “Department of Living Animals” and had 172 at the time whereas earlier all animals were stuffed. At the time no one was quite sure whether or not there would be any public interest in a zoo. This initial request for $200,000 to buy property on which to place the zoo was turned down as historically zoos were created by royalty and the very rich and didn’t seem democratic to many members of the House. Others however, saw the role of democracy as bringing to ordinary people what had historically been available only to royalty and the wealthy. That view eventually prevailed in America, and the National Zoo is a destination for millions of Americans and foreign tourists. In the next session of Congress, the House reversed itself and voted the appropriation for the National Zoo. See {629320}.

The Smithsonian had started a “Department of Living Animals” and had 172 at the time whereas earlier all animals were stuffed. At the time no one was quite sure whether or not there would be any public interest in a zoo. This initial request for $200,000 to buy property on which to place the zoo was turned down as historically zoos were created by royalty and the very rich and didn’t seem democratic to many members of the House. Others however, saw the role of democracy as bringing to ordinary people what had historically been available only to royalty and the wealthy. That view eventually prevailed in America, and the National Zoo is a destination for millions of Americans and foreign tourists. In the next session of Congress, the House reversed itself and voted the appropriation for the National Zoo. See {629320}.