Madera in Madera County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Madera Zoo

Photographed by Lester J Letson, July 11, 2007

1. Madera Zoo Marker

Inscription. In the year 1912 a Mr. William King Heiskell built an aviary with its first inhabitants being a green parrot and several species of birds from around the world. The zoo also had several ponds and water fountains and a bandstand. Although the Madera Zoo wasn’t full of many species of animals, there are several stories about a famous parrot named “Polly” and a alligator named "Galahad".
Polly was most popular for his colorful vocabulary that he learned from his miner friends and his ability to mimic them. Galahad - A nine-foot alligator spent most of his early years in a small bathtub behind a saloon owned by a Mr. Glass, who used to kid with the Chinese and tell them that he was actually a little Chinese dragon.
Polly nearly met his demise when he and another occupant of the park (a raccoon) had encountered each other and the raccoon’s intention was to have Polly for dinner. The raccoon was banished from the zoo and Polly lived his remaining years with Mr. Heiskell's daughter. After his death, he was sent to a taxidermist, stuffed and resides in the present Courthouse Museum.

Erected 2007 by Grub Gulch Chapter 41-49, E Clampus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Animals. In

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addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1912.

Location. 36° 57.6′ N, 120° 3.619′ W. Marker is in Madera, California, in Madera County. It is on West 6th Street 0.1 miles west of South Gateway Drive, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located at the Madera Courthouse Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 106 West 6th Street, Madera CA 93637, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley,

specifically in the Central Valley,

and in the Sierra Nevada.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Madera County Library Service (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Madera to Yosemite Stage Route (about 700 feet away); Borden Chinese Cemetery (approx. 2.9 miles away); a different marker also named Borden Chinese Cemetery (approx. 2.9 miles away); Madera (approx. 4 miles away); Berenda (approx. 7.4 miles away); Dixieland School (approx. 8.8 miles away); a different marker also named Sycamore Point (approx. 9.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Madera.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Sycamore Point (was approx. 9.6 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. The marker is topped with a concrete and river rock alligator.

Photographed by Lester J Letson, August 11, 2007

2. Madera Zoo Marker

Picture taken during the dedication showing many of the volunteers that erected the monument.

Top of Madera Zoo Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lester J Letson, August 11, 2007

3. Top of Madera Zoo Marker

A concrete and river rock "Galahad the Alligator" tops the monument.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2010, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. This page has been viewed 4,066 times since then and 159 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 27, 2010, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photo of "Polly" at the Courthouse Museum. • Can you help?