Pumas Replace Lions: A Sculptural Evolution at U-M’s Ruthven Building

In the 1920s, Albert Kahn's vision for U-M's museum included lions, but artist Carleton Angell sculpted native pumas.

July 21, 2025

In the 1920s, Albert Kahn, a renowned architect, planned the University of Michigan’s University Museums Building on Geddes Avenue, now called the Alexander G. Ruthven Building. He envisioned animal sculptures at the entrance, specifically lions. Instead, museum artist Carleton W. Angell sculpted pumas, native to Michigan, reflecting regional wildlife.

Angell crafted the pumas from terrazzo, painting them black. Installed at the museum in 1940, these sculptures became iconic, welcoming visitors and inspiring campus legends like roaring when the U-M football team triumphed over Ohio State.

Two puma sculptures in 1940 on U-M campus — Two black puma terrazzo sculptures shown here in July 1940 were designed by artist Carleton W Angell and installed 85 years ago in front of the building now known as the Alexander G Ruthven Building Photo from the Ivory Photo collection courtesy of the Bentley Historical Museum

Over time, weather took its toll, causing cracks by the millennium’s end. To preserve them, the pumas were moved indoors, and molds were created for restoration. U-M alumni Jagdish and Saroj Janveja funded the crafting of two new pumas in durable bronze. These replicas featured a black finish, resembling the original terrazzo sculptures.

Two puma sculptures outside the Natural History Museum on U-M's campus — Today two new pumas now cast in bronze face one another in front of the Museum of Natural History a short distance from their original home Photo by Steve Culver The University Record

In 2007, the university proudly placed the new pumas at the museum on Geddes. A celebratory “puma party” and an exhibit showcasing Angell’s work, who served at U-M for over 30 years, marked their return. In 2018, with Angell’s great-grandchildren present, the pumas were moved to face each other at their new location, the Museum of Natural History at 1105 N. University Ave.

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