The narrative West with Giraffes draws inspiration from a remarkable, yet largely forgotten, historical event: the cross-country journey of two giraffes named Lofty and Patches in 1938. These animals survived a hurricane aboard a ship before being transported from the east coast of the United States to the San Diego Zoo. The book, while fictionalized, uses this real journey as its foundational element.
The significance of this undertaking lies in the sheer audacity and logistical challenge of transporting such exotic creatures across a vast and varied landscape during a period of considerable social and economic upheaval. This period offered a momentary distraction and a sense of wonder during a time marked by anxieties related to the looming specter of World War II and the lingering effects of the Great Depression. The giraffe’s journey captured the imagination of the American public, providing a shared experience of awe and novelty.
