Lions - Glen Oak Park Zoo, Peoria, IL
Posted by: 
adgorn
N 40° 43.017 W 089° 34.522
16T E 282473 N 4510526
A pair of reclining lions with their tails resting at their sides. Their bodies lean slightly away from each other with their heads turned toward each other.
Waymark Code: WMR1F7
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 04/27/2016
Views: 3
Provenance: Formerly located Old Peoria County Court House, Peoria, Illinois 61603
Remarks: Lions originally sited on the side of the Old Peoria County Court House. Acquired by Park District when building demolished.
A plaque on the front states the following:
"The Triebel Lions
On this 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Pleasure Driveway and Park District, these "Triebel Lions" are placed hereon to monument the exhibits within this zoo enclosure.
Carved on 1843 by Otto Triebel, the lions were originally placed on either side on the Adams Street approach to the Peoria County Court House in 1903.
They remained there until 1963, at which time the Peoria Court House was razed and the lions were relocated to this site for permanent display.
November 4, 1994"
The sculpture date of 1843 on the plaque seems unlikely to me, given that Triebel came to Peoria after that according to (
visit link) Also, the Smithsonian listing does not have a date.
I first thought the lions were another pair on display inside the zoo, but no. I'll leave those for some other intrepid waymarker to post.
For more information on the zoo: (
visit link)