In 1900, George Mesker, owner of Mesker Iron Co., donated land and money for Mesker Park. With more funding and land, a zoo opened in the park in 1928. The Karl Kae Knecht building, shown here at night during Christmastime, was named in honor of a man who worked as a cartoonist for the Evansville Courier from 1906-1980. He was a big supporter of all things Evansville, particularly zoos and circuses. He donated the funds for the zoo to purchase its first elephant, named Kay in his honor. After she arrived, all of his cartoons had a tiny picture of Kay in them somewhere.