Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!
To be certain, the Baltimore Zoo (yes, we know they're phasing it over
to the less offensive "Maryland Zoo," but we're strict traditionalists)
is certainly an asset to the area. Offering dozens of acres
featuring over 2,200 animals, the zoo is a certain treat for nature
lovers from far and wide. Despite a potentially uncertain future
amid budgetary problems, the Baltimore Zoo remains a truly enjoyable
and convenient place to spend a pleasant outing, and take in the sites.
However, the zoo offers a handful of other fascinating curiosities that
it does not promote at all. These wondrous items include several
springs as well as a particularly charming bridge, all of which date to
the 19th Century, and are among the most remarkable examples of
surviving Victorian statuary to be found anywhere in the area. It
is no doubt that their existence behind the safe confines of the
admission gate of the zoo has helped to ensure their surivial to this
day. However, these remarkable curiosities generally sit forlorn
and forgotten, and none are mentioned anywhere in zoo literature, or
embellished with modern placard. Publicly, it seems the zoo is
more dedicated to its mission as a zoological society. While this
is perfectly understandable, one would think that being on such a
historically significant site, the zoo would not be bashful about
promoting these lovely curiosities as part of their campus, rather than
leave them looking lonely and forgotten. To the urban explorer,
these goodies are nearly worth the price of admission in and of
themselves!
Here, then is a tour of the zoo's other captives, as well as a look at
some more recently forgotten portions of this most historic of urban
zoos, the BALTIMORE zoo...
Click here for a fully detailed
copy of the 1897 topographic map, highlighting the many points of extra
interest in and around the Baltimore Zoo.
EDMUND'S WELL
Edmund's Well is located on the West Lawn near the "Waterfowl
Pavillion" over the Boat Lake, to the right and slightly out from the
main entrance. It is only accessible when the West lawn is open
for special events, such as concerts and gatherings.
|
About as original as it gets, Edmunds Well still retains almost all of
its original flourishes from when it was erected in the 1880's.
At the time of the visit, it was doubling as an impromptu zoo display
in that a frog had made its home in the old fountain base!
|
THE GARRETT BRIDGE AND THE MORRIS FOUNTAIN
The century old Garrett Bridge lies at the curve in the "Crows Nest
Road" in an area which, while marked "No Exhibits" does not seem to
restrict visitor access (crossing the bridge toward the zoo's
quarantine area is prohibited, however). It may be reached by
following the road to the left behind the Bald Eagle's cage.
|
While once in a clearing long ago, the Garrett Bridge is now surrounded
by woodlands. Its elegant curved archway is just barely
discernable in this close view from the inside of the curve.
|
From the Western vantage point, the archway is a bit more
discernable. One certainly would love to see this noble old
bridge better restored to its proper glory!
|
Adjacent to the Garrett Bridge is the equally fascinating Morris
Fountain, which flowed until the 1930's. Still adorned with its
elegant wrought iron embellishments, the poor fountain looks as if it
has been lonely for quite some time.
|
CRISE'S SPRING
Crise's Spring (or Crise's Gift) can be reached by venturing toward the
zoo boundary from between the penguin and duck ponds, and curving
toward the right, where this sight greets the visitor, a lovely but
very overgrown fountain head!
|
The headstone leaves no doubts as to just what this lovely item
is. Sadly, the spring has become largely overgrown in just the
last 3 years alone. One can only hope its grace will soon be
restored.
|
Lying aton Crise's Spring is this lovely maiden, looking in vain for visitors to drink the offerings that "her" spring provides.
|
Base of the fountain head is still discernable regarding its purpose
and function, though some obvious changes have been undertaken to the
backplate.
|
SILVER SPRING
Most expeditions
have at least one failure, and Silver Spring would certainly qualify to
be our "Dr. Livingstone." This view, taken from an elevated
walkway shows that the site of Silver Spring is literally bogged down,
by an artifical bog created at the entranceway to the Childrens
Zoo. Despite three passes of this site, no sign of the old spring
was to be found. Oh Silver Spring, where art thou!?!
MOUNTAIN PASS SPRING
Mountain Pass Spring was always among the more remote of the park's old
springs, located on the far Eastern side. It is actually visible
from the zoo's Africa trail peeking out and facing the exterior road to
the right.
|
To get a better view of the old spring, one must journey outside of the
zoo, and make a long walk along the closed off Eastern drive of the
park, where a hairpin curve marks this site visible behind chain link
fence.
|
Closer inspection seems to reveal some sort of inscription, as well as
other walls behind from which running water can be heard eminating.
|
A zoom view from between the rungs of the fence offer a sweet and
rewarding piece of confirmation, particuarly after making this long
journey by foot!
|
OTHER ZOO GOODIES...
The Maryland Building was constructed in the 1876 as Maryland's entry
in the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. Afterwards, it was
reconstructed on this site overlooking the Elephant house, where it has
been for over 125 years. Despite use as the zoo's Education
department, the building could use a decent rehab.
|
This classic sign sits atop the entrance to the Maryland
Building. It is believed that this structure originally housed
the zoo's offices, untile they were relocated to the Mansion house
nearby.
|
The 1940's vintage Elephant house still proudly graces the main valley
of the zoo, though it no longer houses elephants, who were relocated a
couple years ago. Today, the structure houses a gift shop for the
zoo.
|
The main valley itself is in imminent peril. For years, the
corridor was the only section of the zoo, with the animals housed in
slightly enlarged cages as opposed to simulated habitats. Faced
with an expensive rebuild of sewers, the Main Valley will close in 2005
to consolidate the zoo's collection in other parts of the property.
|
Among the oldest displays is this one, now abandoned. Surrounded
by an ominous fence, this is one example of the more Victorian
menagerie display type of the early days of the zoo.
|
Located along what the zoo calls "Buffalo Yard Road", but which early
maps refer to as "Beechtree Road," these abandoned 1950's era "yards"
look to really miss the throngs of visitors who once lined up at the
railing on the right to glimpse the pleasant examples of wildlife!
|
MORE ZOO HISTORICAL GOODIES??? CONTACT ME!!!
|
