 The domed pavilion housing the mechanism collapsed in 1956 , destroying the mechanism and the sweeps that supported the animals . The park district disposed of the destroyed mechanical parts and stored the animals . In 1961 the giraffes , along with other animals from the carousel , were used in a Christmas display at University Park in Indianapolis . During this time , discussions began between the park district and the Indianapolis Zoological Society about the possibility of the Zoological Society acquiring the animals for use in its children 's zoo section . In April 1962 newspaper reports stated that the animals were to be donated to the zoo , for installation in the main zoo ; the zoo planned to purchase a smaller merry @-@ go @-@ round for the children 's zoo . The animals were apparently still being offered to the zoo in December 1963 , as a newspaper story announced that the park district had just given the zoo authorization to use the carousel parts , and volunteers were being sought to restore the animals . The president of the Zoological Society described the animals as " bigger and more realistically colored , and more intricately detailed , sturdier , and they have more different kinds of animals than that aluminum junk they throw out today " . 
