Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

A zoo at Indian Canyon? 

And not just any zoo, but the “finest zoological garden in the West”?

This intriguing idea had just received what looked like a huge boost from the federal government, which said it was planning to ship the following wild animals from Yellowstone National Park:

• Six elk.

• Two buffalo.

• Two silvertip grizzly bears.

• One brown bear.

• Seven beavers.

They would become “the pioneer denizens of a great natural zoological park, consisting of 120 acres,” just west of Greenwood Cemetery. Park superintendent John Duncan said that a collection of game birds …

From our archives, 100 years ago

A zoo at Indian Canyon? 

And not just any zoo, but the “finest zoological garden in the West”?

This intriguing idea had just received what looked like a huge boost from the federal government, which said it was planning to ship the following wild animals from Yellowstone National Park:

• Six elk.

• Two buffalo.

• Two silvertip grizzly bears.

• One brown bear.

• Seven beavers.

They would become “the pioneer denizens of a great natural zoological park, consisting of 120 acres,” just west of Greenwood Cemetery. Park superintendent John Duncan said that a collection of game birds was also being arranged, as well as deer, bighorn sheep and mountain goats.

Spokane already had a small zoo at Manito Park, but park board president Aubrey White said they eventually planned to transfer all of the Manito animals to the new, bigger Indian Canyon zoo.

However, the Indian Canyon zoo plans never came to fruition. Manito Park’s zoo closed during the Depression.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1653: New Amsterdam – now New York City – was incorporated. … 1971: Idi Amin, having seized power in Uganda, proclaimed himself president.