Easter Monday at the National Zoo

Summary

The annual Easter Egg Roll on Easter Monday at the National Zoological Park. At the top of the hill, the original 1892 Animal House, also known as the Lion House, designed by William R. Emerson is visible. By the turn of the century the National Zoological Park had become a popular spot to spend Easter Monday. Many of the visitors were African Americans who worked as domestics and had off the day after the Easter holiday. Easter Monday at the National Zoo soon became a traditional African American family event. Crowds spent the day seeing the animals, picnicking, and, especially popular among the children, enjoying the Annual Easter Egg Roll on Lion and Tiger Hill, shown here. The Easter Monday tradition has continued to the present, especially as an African American family celebration.

Subject

• Easter Monday at the National Zoological Park (Event)
• National Zoological Park (U.S.)
• National Zoological Park (U.S.) Animal House
• National Zoological Park (U.S.) Early History
• National Zoological Park (U.S.) Lion and Tiger Hill
• National Zoological Park (U.S.) Lion House

Category

Historic Images of the Smithsonian

Contained within

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 35, Folder: 19

Contact information

Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu

Date

early 1900s

Restrictions & Rights

No restrictions

Topic

• Easter
• Zoos
• Grounds, NZP Early History
• Egg rolling
• Easter eggs
• Children
• Zoo visitors
• African Americans
• Easter Egg Roll

Form/Genre

• Photographic print
• Group, candid

ID Number

16831 or MAH-16831

Physical description

Color: Black and White; Size: 10w x 8h; Type of Image: Group, candid; Medium: Photographic print

Full Record

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