Monkey Island: Difference between revisions
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[[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 | '''Monkey Island''' was the first animal exhibit constructed for the [[Birmingham Zoo]] at [[Lane Park]]. It was the brainchild of Mayor [[Jimmy Morgan]] and 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 | 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 7-foot-wide shallow moat of water and ringed by a wrought-iron fence. The island was furnished with a playhouse, playground-style "monkey bars" and trapezes. 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 | The first monkeys to be exhibited at the zoo included "[[Alabama (monkey)|Alabama]]", donated by dancer [[LaBelle Carroll]], [[Romeo]], and four others donated by the [[Kent Animal Hospital]]. They were joined by about 30 newly-acquired rhesus monkeys as the attraction opened to the public on [[October 15]], [[1954]]. | ||
In [[1999]], the spider monkeys inhabiting the exhibit were moved to the zoo's primate building. | In [[1999]], the spider monkeys then inhabiting the exhibit were moved to the zoo's primate building. Monkey Island was then 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 island. On [[September 25]]-[[September 26|26]], [[2009]], the zoo held a special event as they dismantled the exhibit and gave visitors an opportunity to purchase pieces of the rocks that made the outcrops. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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[[Category:Birmingham Zoo]] | [[Category:Birmingham Zoo]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:1954 buildings]] | ||
[[Category:Charles McCauley buildings]] | [[Category:Charles McCauley buildings]] | ||
[[Category:2009 demolitions]] | [[Category:2009 demolitions]] | ||
Revision as of 23:11, 1 September 2014
Monkey Island was the first animal exhibit constructed for the Birmingham Zoo at Lane Park. It was the brainchild of Mayor Jimmy Morgan and 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 7-foot-wide shallow moat of water and ringed by a wrought-iron fence. The island was furnished with a playhouse, playground-style "monkey bars" and trapezes. 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, Romeo, and four others donated by the Kent Animal Hospital. They were joined by about 30 newly-acquired rhesus monkeys as the attraction opened to the public on October 15, 1954.
In 1999, the spider monkeys then inhabiting the exhibit were moved to the zoo's primate building. Monkey Island was then 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 island. On September 25-26, 2009, the zoo held a special event as they dismantled the exhibit and gave visitors an opportunity to purchase pieces 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
- "First in new zoo— Moving day draws near for monkeys" (September 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
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