How Times Have Changed for Elephants

Where: Natural History Museum

When: closing February 1, 2020

This display is housed in the two glass cases on the ground floor of the museum, not far from the Constitution Avenue entrance.  I can remember class trips from my elementary school days when most of the museum was housed in similar cases.

These materials show the change in society's view of elephants.  They used to be considered fair game (no pun intended) for hunters, nothing more than giant beasts to be slaughtered for adventure or entertainment or umbrella stands.

Although hunting and ill-treatment still exists, and there's a debate about the morality of allowing hunting to further conservation, most people are more likely to shoot elephants with a camera than with a gun.  Scientists bring back samples and data in order to further study elephants, rather than specimens to be displayed.

Theodore Roosevelt, a complicated figure in the history of conservation, gets a mention - his hunting expeditions provided over 23,000 animal specimens to the Smithsonian, as well as live animals for the National Zoo.  The most famous elephant at the Museum was not obtained by Roosevelt.  Henry has been on display in the main rotunda since 1959, and when he was installed, he was the largest land mammal on display in any museum in the world.

Verdict: An interesting display - a great way to complement a visit to see Henry.