Longfellow Zoological Gardens was located across the streetcar tracks from Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis. Camels were among the exotic animals at the zoo, and camel rides were offered there. I couldn't find any pictures of anyone riding the camels. I only have this postcard of the camels resting.
Robert "Fish" Jones opened Longfellow Zoological Gardens in 1907. The zoo was named for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow whose poem The Song of Hiawatha made nearby Minnehaha Falls famous. Jones himself was one of the attractions. He liked to dress up and wear top hats. The picture below shows Jones with some of his animals. The zoo was popular for more than twenty-five years. Jones died in 1930, and his daughter maintained the zoo until 1934.
Robert "Fish" Jones opened Longfellow Zoological Gardens in 1907. The zoo was named for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow whose poem The Song of Hiawatha made nearby Minnehaha Falls famous. Jones himself was one of the attractions. He liked to dress up and wear top hats. The picture below shows Jones with some of his animals. The zoo was popular for more than twenty-five years. Jones died in 1930, and his daughter maintained the zoo until 1934.
Minnesota Historical Society photo
I wonder how many'camels resting' will show up this week.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have a chance to get to the Longfellow Zoological Gardens. The only Zoo I have visited in the USA is in Detroit.
Interesting. Zoos probably shy away from the camel ride thing these days...they don't want the patrons getting bit!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a neat post. The camels are great, but I was thinking how we don't really see chimps around as pets like we used to. Thanks for your interesting pictures and stories.
ReplyDeleteKathy M.
Beautiful card. I think I'd like to take a camel ride someday, as long as they don't spit at me.
ReplyDeleteHow absolutely fascination and a wonderful example of how a theme can act as a thread which - in the hands of people such as yourself - takes us the reader to the most interesting places.
ReplyDeleteIs the zoo still there? I have only heard of and been to Longfellow Gardens in PA Did not realize there was one in MN. Great photos of camels at rest :)
ReplyDeleteNice postcard! It appears the rugs were drawn onto the picture. Poor camels have to run around in their altogether just like all the other animals.
ReplyDeleteThe two-hump Bactrian camel comes from an environment as cold as Minnesota, but I don't think the Dromedary camel would tolerate the snow.
ReplyDeleteI never realized so many people had old photos of camels...
ReplyDeleteLove your camel postcard, that is a great image. Great post.
ReplyDeleteIn the photograph I noticed the building in the background. Do you think it contained cages or was it used for some other purpose? It's hard to tell....
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