Madera Zoo

In 1912 William King Heiskell built an aviary whose first inhabitants were a green parrot and several species of birds from around the world, and the zoo also included several ponds, water fountains, and a bandstand. Although it did not contain many kinds of animals, it became known for stories about a famous parrot named Polly and an alligator named Galahad. Polly was popular for his colorful vocabulary, learned from miner friends, and for his ability to mimic them. Galahad, a nine-foot alligator, had spent much of his early years in a small bathtub behind a saloon owned by Mr. Glass, who joked to Chinese people that he was a little Chinese dragon. Polly nearly died after an encounter with a raccoon whose intention was to have him for dinner, but the raccoon was banished and Polly lived out his remaining years with Heiskell's daughter. After Polly died, he was sent to a taxidermist, stuffed, and now resides in the present Courthouse Museum.

Madera, California · United States