Early in Slater Park's development, a small collection of animals was put on display just across from the Daggett House.
A small herd of elk were in residence by 1936 but not until the late 1950s were any really exotic animals added to the park's menagerie.
At that time some of the deer were traded for a lion, a leopard, an Arctic wolf, a baboon, two barbary sheep, and several monkeys.
A series of concrete-block shelters with fenced runs were constructed to house the new arrivals and others soon to be purchased from the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus.
At one time, the City of Pawtucket had an arrangement with the circus to quarter numerous animals in the zoo for several months of the year.