By 1910, increased interest in a zoological park brought together some concerned citizens, and they organized the Zoological Society of St. Louis. In 1914 it was incorporated as an independent civic organization of people interested in a zoo.
Meanwhile, the citizens of St. Louis and surrounding municipalities expressed their diverse opinions as to the location of a zoo if there should be one. Fairgrounds Park, Carondolet Park, the Creve Coeur area and Tower Grove Park were some of the places suggested in newspaper articles and letters to the editors and to civic groups. Some concerned citizens residing near Oakland Avenue, south of Forest Park, expressed their displeasure with a zoo in the park because of the smell of the animals. Even the head of the Parks Department, Dwight Davis, voiced his opinion against Forest Park--that is, until the city set aside 77 acres in the park in which to establish a zoological park. A five-man board was appointed to act as the Zoological Board of Control.
The number increased to nine in 1916, the same year the citizens voted to tax themselves for the construction of the Saint Louis Zoo with a 1/5 mill tax. It is said that this was the first zoo in the world which the citizens of a community supported by passing a mill tax.
The previous year, city funds were used to construct an animal house, complete with elephant heads over the doors. This was later known as the Lion House. (The heads were removed in 1919.)
Once the Board of Control was given authority, it began the expansion of the zoological park. With the acquisition of Miss Jim, using pennies from school children, the Elephant House was built in 1917. The Chain of Lakes and Seal Basin were completed in 1918, complete with water descending from upper to lower lakes. Also that year, the Bird of Prey Cage was built near the present administration building. The plaza between the upper lakes and the Lion House was finished by 1920.
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