16.9.13

Found: Barless Bear Den, Milwaukee, WI

Found: Barless Bear Den, Washington Park, Milwaukee, Wis.
Rising 13 to 18 ft., the walls of irregular naturalistic formation, have at the base a moat 15 ft. wide, scarcely visible from the public walk. The bears standing on the extreme edge of the moat stare at the crowds only some 18 ft. distant. Unique groups of Polar, Grizzly, Black Bears, and Wolves here enjoy practical freedom. The swimming pool is 15 x30 ft. An inner den, 7x10 ft. is provided for sleeping and hibernating.
Published by The L.L. Cook Co. and E.C. Kropp Co., Milwaukee, Wisconsin circa 1920s

The bears of Milwaukee once existed in a simulated natural landscape while spectators,
empowered by a 15 foot moat, ogled them from afar at the Washington Park Zoo. After seeing Werner Herzog's Grizzly Man, this scene takes on sinister overtones though the sender of this card saw the barless bear den as visual proof of Milwaukee's dynamism:
"Having a wonderful time here. A big and growing city.
Weather nice and warm. Edith Allard"
Post marked August 24, 1953

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