Mary Elitch
Elitch's is synonymous with summer fun in Denver. John and Mary Elitch opened their “Zoological Gardens” in 1890. Exotic animals, flower displays, concerts and professional theater. A place to gather that brought flair to a modernizing city. Widowed just a year later, Mary fought to keep their dream going. She was the world’s first woman to own and manage a zoo. She lived on site, rode a cart pulled by an ostrich, and personally bottle-fed bear cubs. Locals called her "the gracious lady of the gardens." In an era when women didn’t have economic power, Mary’s management built the business into one of Denver’s most successful. After a quarter century, she sold it — but insisted the Elitch name stay attached and that she continue to live on site. The park moved downtown in the 90s, but Mary’s legacy lives on. As an old slogan put it: “Not to see Elitch’s is not to see Denver.”
About Colorado Postcards
Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. They give brief insights into our people and places, our flora and fauna, and our past and present, from every corner of Colorado. See more postcards.
