THE EXTRAORDINARY VILLA DOLORES, IN MONTEVIDEO: FROM MENAGÈRIE TO MUNICIPAL ZOO (1894–2014)

Abstract

Since its emergence in 1894, the Villa Dolores Zoo in Montevideo, has had a significant history. This institution was entwined with social and political conflicts between tradition and modernity and the public and private spheres. The “Centenario era” (1910-1930) was a dynamic time building a modern, democratic, and secular nation. This article argues that Villa Dolores is an allegory of the history of Uruguay, its paradoxes, and its challenges. Furthermore, it contributes to the history of the relationships of this society with the animals. The disputes that led to the Zoo’s closure in 2014 express the paradoxes between memory, social action, and expectations for the future of Uruguayan society. Meanwhile, its physical and intangible heritage was depreciating.

Keywords
Villa Dolores; Belle Époque ; animals; Uruguay; Zoos