Yesterday, March 24th, 2008 Black families gathered at the National Zoo Monday for an Easter tradition. The Easter Monday event started in 1891 when blacks were not allowed to go to the White House Easter Egg Roll (until the Dwight Eisenhower presidency). It’s now called the The African American Family Celebration and has been a Washington-area multicultural tradition for many years. Visitors enjoy a variety of special family activities, including an Easter egg roll and hunt, crafts, and entertainment ranging from children’s dance troupes to costumed characters and storytellers.
Easter Monday at the National Zoo, 1900s
The annual Easter Egg Roll on Easter Monday at the National Zoological Park. At the top of the hill, the original 1891 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. Crowds spent the day seeing the animals, picnicking, and enjoying the Annual Easter Egg Roll on Lion and Tiger Hill, shown here. – Source
Usually I’m home on Easter but this year “da job” has me out in L.A. I never did understand the significance in why every year folks jump on the metro redline to trt up to the zoo on Easter Monday … It’ s a pattern for people, first the Egg Hunt at the White House and then the Zoo. Maybe I’m just out of touch! hmmm.. then again I didn’t visit the museum of African American history until last year. My poor daughters, I need to make it a priority for them to visit these sites this Summer..
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