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Photography Gallery
Parks/Recreation: Mesker Park Zoo
Bear Den
Photo dated 1938 (Knecht 1449)
Bear Den
Visitors observing bears in the zoo's first den; dated 1929 (Knecht 1655)
Bear Den
Construction of the bear exhibit; photo dated August 22, 1931 (Knecht 1481)
Bear Den
Photo dated 1938 (Knecht 1219)
Bison
Photo dated October 11, 1936 (Knecht 1459)
Bunny the Elephant
Bunny and Dynamite the pony rehearse for act at Mesker Zoo; trainers are Louis Rhoades (right) and Jack Thompson (background); photo dated April 1, 1961 (Knecht 691)
Camel
Hadi, a camel donated by the Hadi Shriners; photo dated 1936 (Knecht 1439)
Camel
Hadi arrives at the zoo in 1936 (Knecht 1583)
Culver School Students
Visiting the zoo in March 1938; Kay the Elephant and trainer Robert McGraw stand in the background (Knecht 1588)
Elephant Ride
Kay the Elephant entertains children; photo dated June 4, 1929 (Knecht 1740)
Karl Kae Knecht
Courier photographer and columnist examines zoo artifacts; photo dated 1929 (Knecht 1783)
Kay the Elephant
William Emery, superintendent of animals, stands next to Kay; photo dated June 6, 1935 (Knecht 1815)
Kay the Elephant
Kay enjoys a bath; photo dated July 13, 1936 (Knecht 1698)
Kay the Elephant
Kay poses with trainer Robert McGraw; photo dated August 1941 (Knecht 1768)
Kay the Elephant
Kay in Germany, on her way to Evansville from India; photo dated 1929 (Knecht 1778)
Kay the Elephant
Photo dated April 10, 1933 (Knecht 1808)
Kay the Elephant
Trainer Bob McGraw filing the elephant's toe nails; c. 1930s (Steinback 13)
Kay the Elephant
School children enjoying a visit with Kay; photo dated May 31, 1929 (Knecht 1702)
Kay the Elephant
Probably the parade celebrating Kay's arrival in Evansville in 1929 (Schlamp 29)
Knecht Building
One of the first buildings at the zoo (named in honor of Karl Kae Knecht, who helped to found the zoo); photo dated 1930 (Knecht 1526)
Lion Den
C. 1940s (VC 80)
Lion Den
C. 1930s (Knecht 1581)
Lion House
The first building erected at the zoo (1928); lions Belle and Brutus II show off their cub; photo dated April 1929 (Knecht 1755)
Lion House
Photo dated March 31, 1930 (Knecht 1560)
Lion Training
Trainer Bob McGraw with his daughter Norma (Steinback); c. 1930s (Steinback 16)
Mesker Park Zoo
Totem pole and shelter cabin (Karl Kae Knecht stands at the right); photo dated 1937 (Knecht 732)
Mesker Park Zoo
Caretaker with chimpanzee; photo dated June 18, 1931 (Knecht 1099)
Mesker Park Zoo
Rev. Oberly and Kuku; photo dated 1934 (Knecht 1097)
Mesker Park Zoo
Trainer Robert McGraw holds "Miss Georgia"; photo dated 1934 (Knecht 1127)
Mesker Park Zoo
Lake and formal garden; photo dated 1938 (Knecht 784)
Mesker Park Zoo
Buddy Hollander sits on "Joe Cook"; photo dated 1938 (Knecht 1192)
Mesker Park Zoo
Children looking at the bear exhibit; c. 1930s (Knecht 1487)
Mesker Park Zoo
Formal gardens and pond; c. 1930s (Knecht 1515)
Mesker Park Zoo
Animals grazing near the lion exhibit; c. 1930s (Knecht 1593)
Mesker Park Zoo
C. 1930s (Knecht 1661)
Mesker Park Zoo
Photo dated 1938 (Knecht 1782)
Mesker Park Zoo
Construction of one of the first buildings at the zoo after the arrival of two lions; photo dated April 1928 (Knecht 1769)
Mesker Park Zoo
Crowd welcoming Kay the Elephant to the zoo on June 14, 1929 (Knecht 1825)
Mesker Park Zoo
New Kiwanis stage under construction; photo dated 1933 (Knecht 1830)
Mesker Park Zoo
Kuku (left) and Jaycee (right) frolic on top of a lion statue; photo dated 1938 (Knecht 1835)
Mesker Park Zoo
Kay the Elephant with Karl Kae Knecht, her namesake, shortly after her arrival in 1929 (Knecht 1781)
Mesker Park Zoo
Trainer Robert McGraw with Kuku (left) and Jaycee (right); photo dated 1938 (Knecht 1613)
Mesker Park Zoo
Photo dated April 24, 1931 (Knecht 1651)
Mesker Park Zoo
Photo taken in February 1948 (Knecht 1714)
Mesker Park Zoo
View of the Knecht Building (animal house); c. 1940 (VC 77)
Mesker Park Zoo
Weathervane depicting Kay the Elephant; photo dated July 1938 (Knecht 1657)
Mesker Park Zoo
View of the zoo in 1937 (Knecht 1654)
Mesker Park Zoo
Visitors strolling the zoo grounds; photo dated June 24, 1935 (Knecht 1522)
Mesker Park Zoo
Crowd watching chimpanzees at play in new cage with caretaker Robert McGraw; photo dated June 1935 (Knecht 1448)
Mesker Park Zoo
Road construction near the Knecht Building (on top of hill); photo dated June 1936 (Knecht 1224)
Mesker Park Zoo
"Tea time" for chimpanzees; c. 1930s (Knecht 1119)
Monkey Ship
C. 1980s (14PC 22)
Monkey Ship
"Wesiba the chimp" christening the new ship; early 1930s (Knecht 1103)
Monkey Ship
Tourists looking at the new Monkey Ship; photo dated August 16, 1936 (Knecht 1673)
Monkey Ship
Close-up view of ship (note monkey in the window); photo dated May 21, 1935 (Knecht 1668)
Monkey Ship
C. 1940s (VC 75)
Reptile Exhibit
C. 1940s (VC 76)
Reptile Handlers
At far right is trainer Bob McGraw, long-time zoo employee; c. 1930s (Steinback 26)
Staff
Zoo employees wearing new uniforms supplied by Karl Kae Knecht in 1935. Standing (l-r) are Clem Frank, Ivo Nelson, and Benny Michlowitz; seated (l-r) are Clem Kevekordes, Superintendent, Robert McGraw, and Bill Emery, "elephant man" (Knecht 1612)
Theater
Crowd attending a musical performance; c. 1935 (Knecht 1250)
WPA Workers
Probably a crew of WPA workers helping to build the new Mesker Zoo; c. late 1930s (Knecht 1523)
Zoo Visitors
School students arriving for a visit to the zoo; photo dated March 1938 (Knecht 1227)
Hours: Monday, Tuesday 9:00-8:00◊Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9:00-5:30◊Saturday 9:00-5:00◊Sunday 1:00-5:00
Willard Library◊21 First Avenue◊Evansville, Indiana 47710◊812-425-4309◊willard@willard.lib.in.us
