Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Children's Zoo and Farm - Brookfield, Illinois



This is the 75th anniversary of the Chicago Zoological Park which is actually located in Brookfield, a western suburb of Chicago, and is known as Brookfield Zoo. This zoo was opened in 1934. The Children's Zoo was added in 1953.

This postcard brings back memories for me. I remember going to this Children's Zoo when it was new and I was about the age of the children on the card. When I was older, I spent several summers working in the refreshment stands at Brookfield Zoo.

The following description is on the back of the postcard:

CHICAGO'S NEW ZOO AT BROOKFIELD
Children's Zoo and Farm— Here children (and adults) may mingle with many species of wild and domestic young or baby animals. A typical, small-scale Illinois farm with barn, silo, windmill and pens is to be seen, showing calves, colts, lambs, pigs, chicks and ducklings. At feeding time children are invited to bottle-feed some of the baby animals.


Addendum 2012: LIFE magazine had an article about the new Children's Zoo in the August 31, 1953 issue: Zoo's Babies Get Overdose of Love.

This post was written for
A Canadian Family
A Festival of Postcards Blog Carnival

5th Edition, October 2009: Quadrupeds

3 comments:

  1. Elephants, ever since I was a child I have respected Elephants. I was not quite a teen. Our school went on a trip to the Duluth Zoo in Minnesota. There was this big old Elephant. Name forgotten we are talking 50 years ago. Elephant takes a big drink of water and for some reason squirts it directly on me. I was surprised but laughed so hard and have never forgetten. Thanks for the memory

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  2. This brings back memories of zoo visits at about that age for me too!

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  3. Memories for me, too -- I'm the little girl on the left.

    Linda

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