Philadelphia Zoo

The Philadelphia Zoo is a special place located in the Centennial District of Philadelphia on the west bank of the Schuylkill River. It holds an important place in history as the first true zoo in the United States. The zoo was officially started on March 21, 1859, but it took time to open because of the Civil War. Finally, the zoo opened its doors to the public on July 1, 1874, with 1,000 animals and an admission price of just 25 cents. During its early days, it even cared for animals brought to the U.S. from safaris by the Smithsonian Institution before its own National Zoo was built.

Today, the Philadelphia Zoo is known for its amazing work in helping animals that are hard to care for in places like zoos. The zoo works with many groups around the world to help protect the natural homes of the animals it cares for. The zoo covers 42 acres and is home to nearly 1,300 animals, many of which are rare and in danger of disappearing.

Visitors to the Philadelphia Zoo can enjoy many fun and educational things. There is a special area for children called a petting zoo, a carousel with a rainforest theme, chances to talk with animal keepers, tours behind the scenes that can be bought, and many exhibits where kids and families can learn more about the animals.

History

The opening of the London Zoo in 1847 inspired many people in America to want to build a zoo of their own. Dr. William Camac of Philadelphia visited the London Zoo in the 1850s and later suggested building a zoo in Philadelphia. On March 21, 1859, the Pennsylvania legislature officially created the Zoological Society of Philadelphia. The zoo’s opening was delayed by the Civil War from 1861 to 1865.

The Philadelphia Zoological Garden opened its doors on July 1, 1874, and it was the first true zoo in the New World. It started with many different animals, including buffalo, deer, wolves, foxes, bears, and monkeys, as well as many kinds of birds and reptiles. The zoo grew quickly and added new buildings and exhibits over the years.

Philadelphia Zoo has been very successful in caring for and breeding animals. It was the first zoo to have many “firsts,” such as the first orangutan and chimpanzee born in a U.S. zoo. The zoo also helped save birds from the island of Guam by breeding them safely in captivity. Today, the zoo continues to offer new and exciting experiences for visitors of all ages.

Features

The Philadelphia Zoo has many special places where you can see amazing animals. One of these is Zoo360, which has five fun trails where animals can move along special mesh paths above and around visitors. The Rare Animal Conservation Center lets you see some of the world's most rare animals up close.

There is also a children's area called Hamilton Family KidZooU & Faris Family Education Center where kids can interact with smaller animals and learn through games. African Plains shows animals like giraffes, zebras, and hippos. The McNeil Avian Center is a special bird house with many colorful birds from around the world.

Other areas include Bear Country with sloth bears, Big Cat Falls with wild cats like lions and tigers, and Flamingo Cove where you can walk among flamingos. The Small Mammal House has tiny animals and a spider exhibit. Outback Outpost has emus and kangaroos, and Penguin Point is home to Humboldt penguins.

The zoo also offers special experiences like overnight stays and seasonal events such as Boo at the Zoo for Halloween.