About The Oldest Zoo In America
Philadelphia Zoo is the first true, and oldest zoo in America
A zoo is a facility where a diverse collection of animals are kept and displayed for public viewing, education, conservation, and research purposes.
The Philadelphia Zoo is located in the Centennial District of Philadelphia on the west bank of the Schuylkill River at Philadelphia’s historic Fairmount Park. It is the first true, and oldest zoo in America. It is recognized as America's first zoo by the U.S. National Park Service. The zoo is considered the nation's first true zoo by the Library of Congress.
The Philadelphia Zoo was chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on March 21, 1859, but its opening was delayed by the Civil War until July 1, 1874. On opening day, July 1, 1874, over 3,000 visitors arrived at the gates. When the new Girard Avenue Bridge opened three days later, there were 8,500 guests.
For its initial opening in 1874, admission cost .25 cents for adults and .10 cents for children, prices that held steady for the next 50 years. Zoo memberships were $20 per year; a life membership cost a one-time payment of $50.
One of the best laid-out and most animal-packed zoos in the country, the Philadelphia Zoo is set among a charming 42-acre Victorian garden with tree-lined walks, formal shrubbery and animal sculptures.
The “Zoo360” system, which includes the elevated Big Cat Crossing and Gorilla Treeway as well as ground-based trails for giraffes, hippos and zebras, among other critters, was designed to create more roaming room in the zoo’s 33 acres.
The Philadelphia Zoo has garnered many “firsts”. These many firsts include the first zoo charted in the United States (1859), the first orangutan and chimp births in a U.S. zoo (1928), the first chimpanzee ever bred in captivity (1928), the world’s first children’s zoo (1957) and the first U.S. exhibit of white lions (1993), among others.
As the first zoo in America, the Philadelphia Zoo was often at the forefront of zoological innovation. The zoo became recognized as one of the top zoos in the world, not just for their impressive and entertaining collection of animals but also due to their scholarly work and their success in breeding animals in captivity.
In addition to its animals, the zoo is known for its historic architecture. This includes the country home of William Penn’s grandson, its botanical collections of over 500 plant species, its groundbreaking research center and its fine veterinary facilities. Home to nearly 1,300 animals, many rare and endangered, the zoo educates more than 1.2 million visitors each year.
Today, the Philadelphia Zoo is actively involved in community outreach initiatives, partnering with schools, local organizations, and disadvantaged communities to promote conservation awareness and environmental stewardship.