A grassy, mound-shaped island ringed by a moat serves as the monkey island at Overton Park Zoo in Memphis. A rocky feeding ledge and small shelters sit on the slope, with trees, fencing, and a small red vehicle visible beyond. Open-moated monkey islands were a common feature of American zoos in the early twentieth century, letting visitors watch the animals across a water barrier. The zoo in Overton Park, now the Memphis Zoo, opened in 1906 and still occupies the park.
Monkey Island, Overton Park Zoo, Memphis, TN, circa 1930, postcard, c. 1930. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/monkey-island-overton-park-zoo-memphis-tn-circa-1930. Accessed November 2, 2026.
