1908: The Iguanas That Escaped From the Bronx Zoo » BronxParkPre262

Of the 653 undeveloped acres condemned by the city for Bronx Park, more than half were owned by the Lorillard Estate and 170 acres were owned by the Lydig estate. The remaining acres were owned by the Ann Bolton estate, Jefferson M. Levy, Frederick Grote, C.A.L. Kernochan, Mary L. Barbey, and Eva L. Kipp. All total, it cost the city $2.3 million to acquire the lands for Bronx Park in 1888. This photo shows the northwest corner of what would become the Bronx Zoo in 1896.

Bronx Zoological Park