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Monkey Island, Washington Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, circa 1940

Subjects
Public Parks & CommonsZoos & Circuses
Card type
Linen
Date
c. 1930 (White Border)
Front of Monkey Island, Washington Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, circa 1940, E. C. Kropp Co., WI, USA, c. 1930 linen postcard
Front
Back of Monkey Island, Washington Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, circa 1940, E. C. Kropp Co., WI, USA, c. 1930 linen postcard
Back

About this postcard

The picture shows Monkey Island in Washington Park, Milwaukee: a rocky, terraced mound with a small waterfall cascading into a pond, monkeys scattered along the shore and on a rowboat, and a small dark-red building labeled "BATH HOUSE" at the water's edge. Washington Park was laid out in the 1890s on land associated with Frederick Law Olmsted's park designs for Milwaukee, and it served as the home of the Milwaukee County Zoo from its founding in 1892 until the zoo moved to its present site in the early 1960s. Monkey Island, with its simulated rockwork and moat, was one of the park zoo's best-known exhibits and a frequent subject of Milwaukee postcards.

Postcard Details

Message · English, in pencil

Oct-21-1944 Minnie Raynor

PublisherE. C. Kropp Co.
MONKEY ISLAND, WASHINGTON PARK, MILWAUKEE, W.S. --- The unique summer home for monkeys attracts all zoo visitors. The monkeys enjoy their freedom on this island, a large oval mound, 165x87 ft., surrounded by a moat of water 30 ft. wide, a cave providing shelter during bad weather. 2813 Post Card PLACE STAMP HERE MADE IN U.S.A. BY E. C. KROPP CO., MILWAUKEE, WIS.—B1Y—
Addressed to
Minnie Raynor

Minnie Raynor

FromBetty Conner, Enon, OH

Postcard record

PublisherE. C. Kropp Co.
ConditionVery good
PublisherE. C. Kropp Co., Milwaukee, WI
Place sent fromBetty Conner, Enon, OH
NotesLinen-textured stock with a thin white border; vivid colorized sky. "W.S." in the caption is the card's abbreviation for Wisconsin. No postmark. Divided-back linen-texture card with white border; Kropp "E C K Co" stamp box; pencil-dated Oct 21 1944; light foxing and edge soiling.

Cite this card

Monkey Island, Washington Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, circa 1940, postcard, c. 1930. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/monkey-island-washington-park-milwaukee-wisconsin-circa-1940. Accessed October 24, 2026.