Monkey Island: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[Image:Monkey Island postcard.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Postcard view of Monkey Island]] | [[Image:Monkey Island postcard.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Postcard view of Monkey Island]] | ||
'''Monkey Island''' was the first animal exhibit constructed for the [[Birmingham Zoo]] at [[Lane Park]]. It opened on [[April 2]], [[1955]] and was the brainchild of Mayor [[Jimmy Morgan]]. | '''Monkey Island''' was the first animal exhibit constructed for the [[Birmingham Zoo]] at [[Lane Park]]. It opened on [[April 2]], [[1955]] and was the brainchild of Mayor [[Jimmy Morgan]]. It was designed by [[Charles Snook]] of [[Charles McCauley Architects]] | ||
Labor to construct the exhibit was donated by local unions and materials, such as slag for concrete aggregate, were donated by industries. The exhibit was built in a pit and made to resemble an island with rocky outcrops and was surrounded by a shallow pool of water. The interior of the structure | Labor to construct the exhibit was donated by local unions and materials, such as slag for concrete aggregate, were donated by industries. The exhibit was built in a pit and made to resemble an island with rocky outcrops and was surrounded by a shallow pool of water. The interior of the structure was a heated room covered in glazed tiles that could be hosed down every evening. A six-foot tall by six-foot wide tunnel connected the room to a building north of the exhibit. | ||
The first monkeys to be exhibited at the zoo included "[[Alabama (monkey)|Alabama]]", donated by dancer [[LaBelle Carroll]], and five others donated by the [[Kent Animal Hospital]]. | The first monkeys to be exhibited at the zoo included "[[Alabama (monkey)|Alabama]]", donated by dancer [[LaBelle Carroll]], and five others donated by the [[Kent Animal Hospital]]. | ||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* Lilliston, Lyn (April 1954) "[http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/Zoo%20%2804-54%29.jpg Kickoff drive for zoo here to be held Tuesday]" {{BN}} - via [[Birmingham Rewound]] | * Lilliston, Lyn (April 1954) "[http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/Zoo%20%2804-54%29.jpg Kickoff drive for zoo here to be held Tuesday]" {{BN}} - via [[Birmingham Rewound]] | ||
* "Zoo directors get progress report on initial unit." (August 1954) {{BN}} - via [[Birmingham Rewound]] | |||
* Hogan, Ben (January 1969) "[http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/Zoo(1-69).jpg To 'Mr. Birmingham' the zoo is his trophy]" {{BN}} | * Hogan, Ben (January 1969) "[http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/Zoo(1-69).jpg To 'Mr. Birmingham' the zoo is his trophy]" {{BN}} | ||
* Thornton, William (September 24, 2009) "[http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-stories/2009/09/birmingham_zoo_to_level_monkey.html Birmingham Zoo to level Monkey Island, last original exhibit]". {{BN}} | * Thornton, William (September 24, 2009) "[http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-stories/2009/09/birmingham_zoo_to_level_monkey.html Birmingham Zoo to level Monkey Island, last original exhibit]". {{BN}} | ||
| Line 15: | Line 16: | ||
[[Category:Birmingham Zoo]] | [[Category:Birmingham Zoo]] | ||
[[Category:1955 buildings]] | [[Category:1955 buildings]] | ||
[[Category:Charles McCauley buildings]] | |||
[[Category:2009 demolitions]] | [[Category:2009 demolitions]] | ||
Revision as of 13:19, 2 August 2014
Monkey Island was the first animal exhibit constructed for the Birmingham Zoo at Lane Park. It opened on April 2, 1955 and was the brainchild of Mayor Jimmy Morgan. It was designed by Charles Snook of Charles McCauley Architects
Labor to construct the exhibit was donated by local unions and materials, such as slag for concrete aggregate, were donated by industries. The exhibit was built in a pit and made to resemble an island with rocky outcrops and was surrounded by a shallow pool of water. The interior of the structure was a heated room covered in glazed tiles that could be hosed down every evening. A six-foot tall by six-foot wide tunnel connected the room to a building north of the exhibit.
The first monkeys to be exhibited at the zoo included "Alabama", donated by dancer LaBelle Carroll, and five others donated by the Kent Animal Hospital.
In 1999, the spider monkeys inhabiting the exhibit were moved to the zoo's primate building. The exhibit was subsequently reconfigured as a habitat for alligators and snapping turtles until 2002, at which time the alligators and turtles were moved out and a duck exhibit moved in. The ducks were moved to the zoo's general pond in 2009, just prior to demolition of the exhibit. On September 25-26, 2009, the zoo held a special event as they dismantled the exhibit and gave visitors an opportunity to purchase a piece of the rocks that made the outcrops.
References
- Lilliston, Lyn (April 1954) "Kickoff drive for zoo here to be held Tuesday" The Birmingham News - via Birmingham Rewound
- "Zoo directors get progress report on initial unit." (August 1954) The Birmingham News - via Birmingham Rewound
- Hogan, Ben (January 1969) "To 'Mr. Birmingham' the zoo is his trophy" The Birmingham News
- Thornton, William (September 24, 2009) "Birmingham Zoo to level Monkey Island, last original exhibit". The Birmingham News
.jpg){kind=link}