Peabody Hall, adjacent to the Zoo’s Bird House, dates back to 1917 as the Zoo’s first Elephant House. The building had become obsolete for animal management by the 1950s. Today the structure has been transformed into a spacious exhibit gallery designed to house traveling attractions, interactive exhibits, live animal exhibits and wildlife art displays for the general public. The site will also serve as a venue for private events.
The refurbishment has expanded the interior space of the building by more than two-thirds to span 5,000 square feet. The exterior of the building has been restored to its original beauty and is now compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Alberici Constructors, Inc. was the contractor for the renovation.
The first exhibit to open in Peabody Hall will be Zootennial, the Saint Louis Zoo’s walk-through exhibit which celebrates the Zoo’s rich 100-year history. Zootennial opens to the public on May 15, 2010. With archived video, old photos, fun interactive elements and artifacts, the Zootennial exhibit will reveal how the Zoo has changed in the past 100 years. The Zootennial exhibit is free.
