Inscription
When it opened on August 1, 1928, the Detroit Zoological Park was unique and progressive in its design. The Detroit Zoological Society commissioned Boston landscape architect Arthur Shurtleff to draw the plans for the park. Shurtleff did so according to the practices of landscape designer Carl Hagenback of Hamburg, Germany, who promoted the construction of zoo exhibits without bars.
Rather than being caged, the animals roamed freely in outdoor habitats bounded by moats and “rocks” made of reinforced concrete. Carl’s son Heinrich came here to supervise and build the exhibits. The Detroit Zoological Park is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Location
Sources
More markers in Oakland
Historic Green
Troy, MI
The city of Troy has set aside this area for historic structures.
Botsford Inn
Farmington Hills, MI
This historic structure was built as a home in 1836 by Orrin Weston and converted into a tavern by Stephen Jennings in 1841.
White Lake Cemetery
White Lake Township, MI
This cemetery was established by Robert Garner when his nine-month-old child, Mary, died in 1837.
Lakeville Cemetery
Leonard, MI
In 1843 Addison Township settler Ernest Mann donated one acre of land to the local community for use as a cemetery.
Detroit Finnish Co-operative Summer Camp Association
Wixom, MI
On June 21, 1925, Detroit-area people of Finnish descent purchased this land and built a summer camp where they could share the...
