Druid Hill Park in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Nation's Third Oldest Zoo
Druid Hill Park
— Baltimore City Recreation & Parks —
An 1865 inventory of the Baltimore Zoo listed "9 deer, 4 swans, 3 wild geese and 24 ewes." By the 1880s still more creatures, including bears were exhibited in ornate but small Victorian cages. In those days animals were seen as objects of curiosity with little attention given to their natures and needs. Park employees with no formal training as keepers managed the collection.
Today the focus of the Maryland Zoo of Baltimore is on conservation and education. The Zoo strives to provide quality environments for animals, support for research, and memorable experiences for visitors both in the heart of Druid Hill Park and in outreach programs across the State of Maryland.
Erected by Baltimore City Recreation and Parks.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Education • Environment • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.
Location. 39° 19.341′ N, 76° 39.023′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is in Druid Hill Park. Marker is on Beechwood Drive just east of Safari Place, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Safari Pl, Baltimore MD 21217, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Druid Hill Park (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line);
this page online
Additional commentary.
1. Claims about the nation's third oldest zoo
Multiple zoos in the United States claim to be the nation's third oldest. Another notable zoo with the claim is Buffalo, New York's.
— Submitted December 11, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 11, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 117 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
