Vilas Park & Zoo

William F. & Anna Vilas donated $18,000 to The Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association in 1904 for Vilas Park to be named in honor of their son Henry, who died of diabetes, in his early 20s.

The zoo opened in 1911

The Vilas Zoo Monkeys The Vilas Zoo used to house150 rhesus monkeys. When it was discovered the university was doing invasive procedures there was much controversy and protesting. Funding was eventually pulled and the monkeys were moved. After heated debates on where they would go, they were sent to the university of Tulane. The cage that held the monkeys at the zoo is no longer there, and no other animals have taken that spot in the zoo.

Vilas Zoo Carousel