Cities Neighboring Henry Vilas Zoo: Henry Vilas Zoo On June 30,
1904, Col. William F. and Anna M. Vilas gave a large tract of
land to the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association "for the
uses and purposes of a public park and pleasure ground." From
1905 through 1910, the Vilas family donated an additional
$42,000 for improvements, and public donations of $10,000 were
raised for the enlargement and improvement of the park. The park
was named in memory of the Vilas' son, Henry, who died at a
young age due to complications from diabetes. In 1911, the first
animal exhibits were created, representing the start of the
Henry Vilas Zoo. In 1995, state-of-the-art habitats are built
for Great Apes and Primates - chimpanzee, orangautan, and red-
tailed lemur. In what has proved to be a defining and truly
visionary move, the Vilas Family stipulated that the park always
be admission free. As the zoo developed within the park, it too
remained free. Today it's an extraordinary asset that few
communities our size can clai