Longfellow Zoological Gardens

The Longfellow Zoological Gardens (sometimes simply called the Longfellow Gardens) was a zoo and garden in Minneapolis's Minnehaha neighborhood in Minnesota, United States.cite book|title=Longfellow Gardens Guide|last=Jones|first=Robert|date=1927|location=Minneapolis|edition=17th]

History

A Minneapolis businessman and showman named Robert "Fish" Jones first bought a property near the edge of downtown Minneapolis in 1886.cite book|last=Benidt|first=Bruce Weir|title=The Library Book|publisher=Minneapolis Public Library and Information Center|location=Minneapolis|date=1984|isbn=0-9613716-0-9] He converted the three-acre property into a zoo for the animals which he had collected since his arrival in Minneapolis in 1876.cite web|title=Lions, Oysters, and Bears: A Fishmonger's Tale - City Pages (Minneapolis/St. Paul)|publisher=City Pages|date=1999-05-12|last=Ritter|first=Peter|url=http://articles.citypages.com/1999-05-12/news/lions-oysters-and-bears-a-fishmonger-s-tale/|accessdate=2008-05-02] These included lions, jaguars, leopards, bears, cattle and a camel. The amount of animals he kept, however, soon grew and Jones was forced to move from the property on Hennepin Avenue to an area in south Minneapolis. Then, in 1906, he opened the zoo to the public. He also built a house in the style of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's, where he lived for the rest of his life.

In 1908, in a ceremony presided over by Minneota Representative Frank Nye, Jones and a group of others were honored by a letter from Alice M. Longfellow, the daughter of Wadsworth Longfellow noting her wish to someday come and visit the gardens. She never came, however.

Collection

The zoo was popular, and continued to grow as Jones eventually added zebras, monkeys, orangutans and a polar bear which was said to have come from Norway. He also had a wide array of birds from the Grey Crowned Crane to the flamingo to the storks. The zoo was also known for its seals.

Later years

The zoo continued to prosper, although complaints from neighbors about noise and smell were perpetual. The zoo continued to draw crowds, however, with intriguing wildlife for adults and monkeys, which was the center point of the zoo for many children.

In 1930, Jones died. His family tried to keep his zoo open, but failed and the zoo had to be closed down. Many of the animals were sold or given the Como Zoo in St. Paul and in 1934, the land where the zoo once stood was given to the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board. It was rumored that several seals escaped the zoo into nearby Minnehaha Creek, although this was never proved.

The land where the zoo once stood is now residential.cite web|title=Primary Zoning Districts|url=http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/zoning/maps/primary_plate34_a.pdf|date=2005-12-23|accessdate=2008-05-02|publisher=City of Minneapolis]

References