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
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
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 »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Everything at Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe is served in takeout containers.
Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe
The fried green tomato sandwich comes on jalapeño cornbread toast.
Café Reconcile
BBQ shrimp braised in beer are a popular menu item.
High Hat Cafe
The pastries at Lagniappe Bakehouse are worth waking up for.
Lagniappe Bakehouse
Peter Vazquez has been quietly making a name for himself for years.
The Appetite Repair Shop
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
22 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
23 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
24 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
25 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.