Reptiles Ancient and Modern

I visited the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington yesterday and set out for the Reptile House. I had read about the Reptile House (now known as the Reptile Discovery Center) in The Artist Who Saw Through Time and I wanted to see the artwork that Charles Knight had put into the building. It’s still there and it shows Knight’s vision of interconnections between ancient and modern life. A mosaic portrait of a Stegosaurus presides over the entrance, while sculpted pterodactyls, chameleons and tortoises perch beside the doorway. Knight produced the portraits in 1931 and based them on the best scientific knowledge available at the time. They’re still compelling and beautiful; worth the trip to the reptile house all by themselves. But of course, the Reptile Discovery Center is filled with living reptiles too. Unfortunately, some of them are in danger of going the way of Stegosaurus, mainly due to human activities that cause habitat loss or, in some cases, just wanton killing. The Smithsonian, like most zoos, is participating in conservation efforts. If you happen to be in Washington DC, the National Zoo’s Reptile Discovery Center is worth a visit and you can’t beat the price – admission is free.