![]() ![]() Inbreeding and violence necessitated either the selling or destruction of the old herd and the purchase of a new one. Breeding amongst themselves, the herd would grow in size until problems emerged. Due to their territorial nature, the monkeys had to be purchased as a group. Brought in primarily from Central and South America, the herd consisted mostly of spider monkeys. There were challenges in keeping monkeys, however. By the end of the 1930s, that number had increased to almost 27,000. In 1931, it was estimated that 22,000 people visited the zoo and its main attraction. Myrick Zoo and its Monkey Island proved to be popular to residents and tourists alike. Other than an initial warning in the newspaper to leave the fish in the island’s moat alone, the exhibit seemed problem-free. ![]() According to the La Crosse Tribune, the monkeys “twisted and twirled in the two pipe Ferris wheels, then capered across the rope ladder stretched between the two trees on the island” to the delight of onlookers. Thousands more viewed the attraction and its initial dozen monkeys later that day. In a ceremony attended by a crowd of over 1000 people, the island was formally turned over to Myrick Park and the city. In 1929, work began in earnest and the costs of construction were paid by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.ĭedicated on August 25, 1929, it was seen as the beginning of a great zoo. The city’s greenhouse would house them in the winter. The island was to have a high mound of earth in the center with a cave for the monkeys to shelter in, along with some trees. The city engineer drew up plans for the island in a pond surrounded by a wall that would be 2-3 feet above water. After conferring with zookeepers at Milwaukee Zoo, it was determined that the location was too damp for housing monkeys and Myrick Park was deemed a more suitable location. Proposed by Alderman William Roellig, the initial plan was to place it in the lagoon at Pettibone Park. As talk and action in the community moves toward bringing the zoo back, a look at its historical centerpiece is in order.Īs early as 1924, a Monkey Island was planned for Myrick Park. From the time the Monkey Island was created in 1929 until the city ceased management of the Myrick Park Zoo in 2007, the monkeys were the main attraction and perhaps the thing visitors remembered most. Many longtime La Crosse residents feel nostalgia for the Myrick Park Zoo, in particular the Monkey Island attraction. (written by Barry McKnight, Archives staff)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |