Walter Rothschild's crew, drawn by zebras

Lord Rothschild's Zebra Carriage (1898): A Victorian Oddity in the Streets of London

This remarkable photograph, taken in 1898, captures the eccentric Lord Walter Rothschild, a member of the renowned banking family and an avid zoologist, riding through London in a carriage drawn not by horses—but by zebras.

Known for his passion for exotic animals and for founding the Tring Zoological Museum, Rothschild aimed to prove that zebras could be domesticated. While not particularly practical for transport, the image became legendary—a blend of science, spectacle, and aristocratic flair. The zebra-drawn carriage rolls past Victorian architecture and gas-lit street lamps, turning heads in the heart of the City of London.

More than a quirky moment, this scene represents a time when curiosity, exploration, and social status collided in extraordinary ways.

📍 London, England 🗓️ Year: 1898 🔎 Suggested tags: Walter Rothschild, zebra carriage, Victorian London, historical oddities, zoological history, eccentric aristocrats, 19th-century photography

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