A New Deal for our National Zoo: Progress begins with the Civil Works Administration

Above: In one of the earliest New Deal projects at the National Zoo (Washington, DC) men in the Civil Works Administration (CWA) are seen "cutting through a point to eliminate a dangerous curve in a road at the National Zoological Park, November 1933. In the background is the original Buffalo Barn." Photo and description courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution Archives.

Above: A close-up of the CWA work crew.

Above: This photo, taken in January 1934, "shows Civil Works Administration laborers cutting a trench for laying a water main at the National Zoological Park (NZP). The location is on Adams Mill Road in order to provide fire protection near the office of the Director. The CWA was part of the New Deal plan to employ people during the Great Depression." Photo and description courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution Archives.

Above: A close-up of the CWA work crew. Note the unusual (by today's standards) "22 Mile Speed Limit" sign.

Above: "Civil Works Administration laborers building trails in the National Zoological Park and constructing a stone wall to hold the trail," January 1934. Photo and description courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution Archives.

Above: A close-up of the CWA work crew.

Above: Another CWA trail-making crew at the National Zoo, January 1934. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution Archives.

Above: A close-up of the work crew.

Above: CWA workers "construct a trail to the Bird House in the National Zoological Park in March 1934. The Bird House appears in background. Depression era [New Deal] programs allowed the Zoo to build and renovate many facilities." Photo and description courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution Archives.

Above: A close-up of one of the CWA workers, from the previous photo. From November 1933 through March 1934, the New Deal offered many jobs to improve the common good. Over 4 million unemployed Americans signed up.

Above: A model of the zoo, created around 1888. The Zoo's 1934 annual report tells of CWA workers "Revising... a topographic map of the National Zoological Park." This model might be the map referred to. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution Archives.

Above: A closer view of some of the structures and outdoor exhibits on the model.

In addition to the work seen above, the National Zoo's fiscal year 1934 report lists other work performed by CWA workers, such as improvements to the Bird House; replacing the foundation of a warehouse; landscape enhancements; better organization of the Zoo's library; assisting in the architectural design of the Small Mammal House; improvements to various animal exhibits; and "Minor construction, improvements, and repairs, consisting of painting, repairing, improving or replacing minor buildings, cages, fences, pools, pipes, drainage and electric lines, etc., and resurfacing, improving and extending roads, walks, trails, bridle paths, and grounds."

And the CWA was just the brief-lived beginning of the New Deal's great provision of funding and labor for our National Zoo. Soon, the Public Works Administration (PWA), the Works Progress Administration (WPA), and other New Deal agencies would move in to do even more. I'll cover this in future blog posts.