Frank Buck Zoo
Encyclopedia
Frank Buck Zoo is a small zoo originally founded in 1930 and located in the 30 acres (12.1 ha) Leonard Park in Gainesville, Texas
, USA. The zoo started as the Gainesville Community Circus in 1930 and is currently home to more than 130 animals.
, who collected wild animals from all over the world, and who also worked as a ring master at the zoo.
The zoo was moved to its current location in Leonard Park in 1962.
The Frank Buck Exhibit opened at the zoo in March 2008 showing items donated by Buck's daughter, Barbara Buck, that once belonged to her father including camp tools and media memorabilia.
Gainesville, Texas
Gainesville is a city in and the county seat of Cooke County, Texas, United States. The population was 15,538 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, USA. The zoo started as the Gainesville Community Circus in 1930 and is currently home to more than 130 animals.
History
The zoo was founded by A. Morton Smith as Gainesville Community Circus, and opened in 1930 at the Cooke County Fair, Fair Park, in Gainesville. A fire at the zoo in 1954 destroyed circus equipment and from 1954 the animals were kept permanently in enclosures. In 1954 the zoo was renamed after the film actor and director, Frank BuckFrank Buck (animal collector)
Frank Howard Buck was a hunter and "collector of wild animals," as well as a movie actor, director, writer and producer...
, who collected wild animals from all over the world, and who also worked as a ring master at the zoo.
The zoo was moved to its current location in Leonard Park in 1962.
The Frank Buck Exhibit opened at the zoo in March 2008 showing items donated by Buck's daughter, Barbara Buck, that once belonged to her father including camp tools and media memorabilia.