Longfellow Gardens was a zoo, 1907 to 1934

Longfellow Gardens was opened in 1907 by Robert F. (Fish) Jones. The zoo, which occupied the area above Minnehaha Falls, was filled with many different animals collected by Jones on his trips to Europe and Asia.

Q: For many years there was a small zoo near Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis. I remember as a child looking down at some wild animals, particularly a lion. What was the name of this zoo and what happened to it?

A: It was called Longfellow Gardens and was opened in 1907 by Robert F. (Fish) Jones.

The zoo, which occupied the area above Minnehaha Falls, was filled with many different animals collected by Jones on his trips to Europe and Asia. Among these animals were hippos, elephants, exotic birds, tigers, leopards and more. The most famous animal was the lion you remember named Hiawatha.

Fish Jones himself was a colorful character. He was often seen about town in his signature top hat and Prince Albert frock coat, with Russian greyhounds. Before the Minnehaha Park location, Jones operated a zoo from 1885 to 1906 at 17th St. and Hennepin Av. S. in Minneapolis - now the site of the Basilica of St. Mary.

During the 1920s, neighboring residents began to complain of the odd noises and offensive smells emanating from the Longfellow zoo. After receiving petitions from the neighborhood, the Minneapolis Park Board began proceedings to acquire the ground from Jones. Jones, who didn't want to give up his zoo, compromised by deeding the land to the city as a gift and accepting a 10-year lease of the grounds.

Jones died in 1930, before the lease expired, but his daughter continued to run Longfellow Gardens until 1934. At that time, she sold many of the animals to the new Como Zoo in St. Paul, and Minneapolis took possession of the property.

All that remains of the zoo today is the replica of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's house that was used until the late 1960s as the Longfellow Branch of the Minneapolis Public Library. The house still stands, but is in need of restoration.

The Hennepin History Museum has Hiawatha the lion in its collection. The lion was made into a rug.

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