Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Ñaño house with mausoleum skull in foreground.
Ñaño Casa Museo
Honningsvåg Bamse Statue
Honningsvåg Bamse Statue
The salt cairn.
The Lewis and Clark Salt Works
South entrance.
Reigate Tunnel
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è Pasta... E Pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
6 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
7 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
7 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
7 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Washington, D.C. Strom Party Animal

Strom Party Animal

A public art jibe at one of the United States’ oldest and longest-serving senators.

Washington, D.C.

Added By
Bryan Woerner
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
  bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
  bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
  bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In 2002, the Washington, D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities unveiled 200 fiberglass sculptures decorated by 200 local artists as part of a large citywide display, capitalizing on the popularity of the international Cow Parade public art exhibit.

Because it’s D.C., these "Party Animals" took on a bipartisan political theme, with 100 donkeys and 100 elephants. They were given whimsical names like “Ella Phantsgerald” or “Workers ASSet.”

While not all artists used politically-themed decorations, some took that theme and ran with it. "Strom" is one of those. The elephant statue is made up to look like a woolly mammoth and is named for the late South Carolina senator Strom Thurmond, who at the time had recently retired as the oldest and longest-serving senator.

This sculpture was sponsored by and originally displayed outside the headquarters of the National Geographic Society. The mammoth, as well as the other Party Animals, were later sold at auction, and the strange Strom sculpture now sits outside a private residence.

Related Tags

Sculptures Animals Politics Public Art Woolly Mammoths

Know Before You Go

Strom now sits quietly in front of a private residence. It is can be seen easily from the sidewalk (however, remember it is on private property). Other Party Animals can be found throughout D.C., including a small collection on the main campus of American University.

Community Contributors

Added By

bryanwoerner

Published

September 3, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://artdaily.com/news/1672/Party-Animals-Unveiled-in-Washington--D-C-#.XWAV8OhKjIU
  • http://www.jophan.org/safari/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strom_Thurmond
  • https://www.flickr.com/photos/akuchling/25889755
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2002/07/03/the-party-bunch/976fc8e1-d2ee-4cd9-b0d6-2409b5e9b491/
Strom Party Animal
2332 California St NW
Washington, District of Columbia
United States
38.915379, -77.051837
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Spanish Steps

Washington, D.C.

miles away

The Lindens

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Letelier-Moffitt Monument

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

United States

Places 285
Stories 50

Nearby Places

Spanish Steps

Washington, D.C.

miles away

The Lindens

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Letelier-Moffitt Monument

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

United States

Places 285
Stories 50

Related Stories and Lists

Treat Yourself to a Scavenger Hunt Through DC’s Most Delightful Destinations

List

Sponsored by washington.org

Related Places

  • Eskişehir, Turkey

    Uğur Mumcu Park

    This harrowing memorial remembers a murdered investigative journalist.

  • Numerous attempts to take down the Catford Cat have failed over the years.

    London, England

    The Catford Cat

    For more than half a century, an enormous feline has watched over this London neighborhood.

  • Jack the turkey.

    Hartford, Connecticut

    Statue of Jack the Pardoned Turkey

    This sculpture commemorates the first instance of an American president pardoning a turkey.

  • Mexico City, Mexico

    Cocodrilo de Leonora Carrington

    A fabulously bizarre surrealist sculpture by the late artist Leonora Carrington.

  • London Road badger.

    Edinburgh, Scotland

    Wooden Animal Sculptures

    Another entry into the world of Edinburgh's pop-up artworks.

  • The coyote fountain of Coyoacán.

    Mexico City, Mexico

    Fuente de los Coyotes

    In Coyoacán, a pair of coyotes crown a public fountain in reference to the ancient Aztec name of the borough.

  • Horatio.

    Adelaide, Australia

    'A Day Out'

    These bronze sculptures sow whimsy by hamming it up on a pedestrian mall.

  • Hey there!

    Detroit, Michigan

    Monumental Kitty

    This feline raises a friendly paw at drivers barreling toward the freeway.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.