Connecticut Ave/ K Street in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

"Party Animals"

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 22, 2026

1. "Party Animals" Marker

Inscription.

"Party Animals". . A Party for All (Donkey) Cory Lynn Caulfield, Grand Old Pachyderm (Elephant) Gary Jameson. On April 23, 2002, First Lady Laura Bush and Mayor of the District of Columbia, Anthony A. Williams, launched a DC public art exhibit entitled "Party Animals." Sponsored by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, "Party Animals" was inspired by similar public art exhibitions throughout the country and abroad. The Commission manufactured 200 fiberglass party animal sculptures , 100 Republican elephants and 100 Democratic donkeys , and invited local and nationally recognized artists to submit creative designs for their transformation. From a pool of over 1,200 submissions, 200 designs were selected. Upon completion of the sculptures, the Commission temporarily installed all 200 "Party Animals" at various sites throughout the District., Just before the November 2002 midterm elections, the Commission held an online auction featuring the "Party Animals." After a protracted, day-long bidding war, the Club brought home its first picks, "A Party for All," a Democratic donkey featuring the flags of all 50 U.S. states by DC artist and gallery owner Cory Lynn Caulfield, and a patriotic Republican elephant, "Grand Old Pachyderm," by Maryland artist Gary Jameson. The Commission's live and online auctions raised approximately $1.1 million for its arts education programs and grants. It also set the stage for a second DC public art exhibition, "Pandamania," in 2004., Many thanks to those responsible for bringing the "Party Animals" to the Club: The University Club Foundation; the Club's late former General Manager, Albert Armstrong; Paul Allen; Stephen Allis; Laura Arth; Jack Belcher; William Black; Richard Bradshaw; The Honorable Donald Brotzman; Michael Burda; John Chandler; Annemargaret Connolly; Leonard A.C. Eisener; Robert Forrester, Jr.; Kenneth Frank; Philip Gagner; Dennis Griesing; Milton Heller; Kimberly Hippler; Claudia Hrvatin; Pamela Lacey; William Lauttamus; Jeff Lee; Gary Lytle; Dr. Charles Mack; Caroline and Kammie Murphy; Ricahrd W. Peterson; William Pierangeli; Herman Pirchner; Carl Pompei; Mark Rossini; William Turenne; John Weiner; and David Weiss.

A Party for All
(Donkey)
Cory Lynn Caulfield

Grand Old Pachyderm
(Elephant)
Gary Jameson
On April 23, 2002, First Lady Laura Bush and Mayor of the District of Columbia, Anthony A. Williams, launched a DC public art exhibit entitled "Party Animals." Sponsored by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, "Party Animals" was inspired by similar public art exhibitions throughout the country and abroad. The Commission manufactured 200 fiberglass party animal sculptures — 100 Republican elephants and 100 Democratic donkeys — and invited local and nationally recognized artists to submit creative designs for their transformation. From a pool of over 1,200 submissions, 200 designs were selected. Upon completion of the sculptures, the Commission temporarily installed all 200 "Party Animals" at various sites throughout the District.

Just before the November 2002 midterm elections, the Commission held an online auction featuring the "Party Animals." After a protracted, day-long bidding war, the Club brought home its first picks, "A Party for All," a Democratic donkey featuring the flags of all 50 U.S. states by DC artist and gallery owner Cory Lynn Caulfield, and a patriotic Republican elephant, "Grand Old Pachyderm," by Maryland artist Gary Jameson. The

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Commission's live and online auctions raised approximately $1.1 million for its arts education programs and grants. It also set the stage for a second DC public art exhibition, "Pandamania," in 2004.

Many thanks to those responsible for bringing the "Party Animals" to the Club: The University Club Foundation; the Club's late former General Manager, Albert Armstrong; Paul Allen; Stephen Allis; Laura Arth; Jack Belcher; William Black; Richard Bradshaw; The Honorable Donald Brotzman; Michael Burda; John Chandler; Annemargaret Connolly; Leonard A.C. Eisener; Robert Forrester, Jr.; Kenneth Frank; Philip Gagner; Dennis Griesing; Milton Heller; Kimberly Hippler; Claudia Hrvatin; Pamela Lacey; William Lauttamus; Jeff Lee; Gary Lytle; Dr. Charles Mack; Caroline & Kammie Murphy; Ricahrd W. Peterson; William Pierangeli; Herman Pirchner; Carl Pompei; Mark Rossini; William Turenne; John Weiner; and David Weiss.

Erected by The University Club Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Arts, Letters, Music • Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is April 23, 2002.

Location. 38° 54.287′ N, 77° 2.178′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Connecticut

"Party Animals" Display image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 22, 2026

2. "Party Animals" Display

Ave/ K Street. It is at the intersection of 16th Street Northwest and Sakharov Plaza, on the left when traveling south on 16th Street Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1135 16th St NW, Washington DC 20036, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in the Tidewater,

and in the Chesapeake Bay Region.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The University Club (a few steps from this marker); William Howard Taft (a few steps from this marker); Plaza de los Afiliados (within shouting distance of this marker); American Chemical Society Land Acknowledgement (within shouting distance of this marker); Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Metropolitan AME Church (about 300 feet away); Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church (about 400 feet away); Saint Augustine Catholic Church (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 22, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 59 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 22, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.