Stunning Historical Photos of Franklin Park Zoo, Boston in the Early 20th Century

Franklin Park Zoo is a 72-acre zoo in Boston, Massachusetts. The zoo is located in Franklin Park, Boston’s largest park and the last of the Emerald Necklace parks of the city. Currently, it is operated by Zoo New England, which also operates the Stone Zoo in Stoneham, Massachusetts.

The zoo was opened to the public in 1912 and was run by the City of Boston until 1958 when the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) took control. MDC’s management led to the opening of several new exhibits, including Bird’s World (c. 1975), the Children’s Zoo (1984), and the African Tropical Forest (1989). In 1991, the zoo’s management was transferred to the Commonwealth Zoological Corporation (CZS), which also took over the Stone Zoo.

American photographer Leslie Ronald Jones took these stunning photos of animals at Franklin Park Zoo between the 1910s and 1930s

#1 Animals – By gosh, shoot to kill, Franklin Park

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#2 Adjutant stork, Franklin Park Zoo

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#3 Black bears, Franklin Park Zoo

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#4 Brown bears Lizzie, Minka, and Lillie, Franklin Park Zoo

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#5 Buffalo – Mothers and young, Franklin Park Zoo

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#6 Camels – Mother and young, Franklin Park Zoo

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#7 Deer and pigeons eat together, Franklin Park Zoo

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#8 Ducks at Franklin Park Zoo

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#9 Elephants bathing at Franklin Park Zoo

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#10 Elephants bathing at Franklin Park Zoo

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#11 Elk, Franklin Park Zoo

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#12 Elk, Franklin Park Zoo

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#13 Eskimo dogs at Franklin Park Zoo

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#14 Eskimo dogs at Franklin Park Zoo

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#15 Franklin Park Zoo: “Cooling off” red deer in trough

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#16 Franklin Park Zoo: Baby deer has lunch

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#17 Franklin Park Zoo: Brown bear scratching back on rock

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#18 Franklin Park Zoo: Brown bears and cubs

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#19 Franklin Park Zoo: Mother and baby bear Miner and Rose

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#20 Franklin Park Zoo: Polar bear Fatima stands on two feet

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#21 Franklin Park Zoo: Yak standing in water trough to cool off

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#22 Happy the hippo laughing in Franklin Park Zoo

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#23 Kangaroo mother and young, Franklin Park Zoo

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#24 Large cats, Franklin Park Zoo

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#25 Lion at Franklin Park Zoo

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#26 Lions, Franklin Park Zoo

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#27 Mame the lioness poses for her picture

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#28 Man reaches into hippo’s mouth, Franklin Park Zoo

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#29 Manicuring Waddy’s toenails at Franklin Park Zoo

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#30 Peacock in full bloom, Franklin Park Zoo

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#31 Polar bears at Franklin Park Zoo

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#32 Polar bears at Franklin Park Zoo

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#33 Raccoons in winter, Franklin Park Zoo

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#34 Red deer, Franklin Park Zoo

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#35 Russian brown bears are of great interest at Franklin Park Zoo

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#36 Tom the lion at Franklin Park Zoo. He just woke up

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#37 Tony the elephant getting swept off by Dan Harkins in the elephant house

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#38 Zebra at Franklin Park Zoo

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#39 Zebras and sacred cows get friendly at Franklin Park Zoo

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#40 Zebras at Franklin Park Zoo

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