The History of the Detroit Zoo

The History of the Detroit Zoo. . , 1883 , First zoo in Detroit, result of bankrupt circus. Sited where Tiger Stadium once stood. , , 1911 , First meeting of Detroit Zoological Society , , 1916 , Royal Oak site of Detroit Zoo purchased. , , 1924 , Detroit votes to establish Detroit Zoological Park Commission to develop and operate the zoo. , , 1927 , Bird house completed, designed by Detroit architect William H. Creaser. , , 1927 , First captive wolverine birth in the world takes place at the Detroit Zoo. , , 1928 , August 1, the Detroit Zoo opens to the public. Exhibits include elk yard, bear dens, bird house, lion dens, raccoon and wolverine exhibits and African veldt. , , 1928 , December 3, zoo closes for the winter, having entertained an estimated one and a half million visitors in four months. , , 1931 , Miniature Railroad opens, donated by The Detroit News , , 1930-32 , New exhibits include elephant, rhino, African swamp, baboon rock, giraffe, bison, farmyard exhibits, prairie dog village and the first reptile exhibit. , , 1932 , First chimpanzee shows with the famous Jo Mendi. , , 1933 , Zoo begins truck gardens to help alleviate Depression food shortages. , , 1933-34 , Civil Works Administration and Federal Emergency Relief Administration provide funds and manpower to build hippo house, beaver habitat and many others. , , 1935 , First polar bear cub to survive at the Detroit Zoo begins a record of success in breeding these threatened bears. , , 1935-37 , Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) builds animal hospital, administration building and major landscaping. , , 1939 , Horace H. Rackham Memorial Fountain dedicated. , , 1940 , Elephant Paulina "retires" after 500,000 riders. , , 1943 , Zoo employees begin working six-day weeks to replace workers entering World War II. , , 1948 , Ten polar bears donated to the zoo by Commissioner Walter O. Briggs. , , 1952 , The first animal hospital completed (renovated garage). , , 1953 , Zoo hatches an ostrich, the first to be successfully raised in any U.S. zoo. , , 1955 , Holden Amphitheater and Great Ape House open. , , 1960 , Holden Museum of Living Reptiles opens. , , 1962 , Regular TV broadcasts of "Sonny Eliot at the Zoo" begin. , , 1968 , Penguinarium opens, the first zoo building in the world designed entirely for penguins. , , 1969 , The Detroit Zoo opens to the public year round. , , 1972 , Voters approve admission charge. , , 1977 , Bird house free-flight wing built and opens. , , 1977 , Docent (volunteer teacher) program begins. , , 1978 , The Detroit Zoo celebrates its 50th anniversary. , , 1982 , Chimpanzee shows end as zoo philosophy on animal care changes. , , 1987 , New zoo wall, parking deck and front entrance built. , , 1989 , Chimps of Harambee habitat opens. , , 1989 , The last 25 individual Partula nodosa snails on Earth arrive at the Detroit Zoo to begin a highly successful conservation program. , , 1993 , First Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo, the nation's largest companion animal adoption event, is held. , , 1993 , Dinosauria! exhibit featured for the first time at the Detroit Zoo. , , 1994 , Renovated giraffe house opens to the public after 32 years. , , 1995 , Wildlife Interpretive Gallery opens, a renovation of the 1926 bird house. , , 1996 , Gorillas return to the Detroit Zoo. , , 1997 , Edward Mardigian Sr. River Otter Habitat opens. , , 1997 , The Gerry Rissman PlayVenture opens. , , 1999 , Prairie dog habitat debuts with viewing bubbles for children to get face to face with the animals. , , 2000 , Amphibiville, home of the National Amphibian Conservation Center, opens. , , 2001 , Wild Adventure Ride, the nation's first simulator in a zoo, opens. , , 2001 , Arctic Ring of Life, the world's largest polar bear habitat, opens. , , 2001 , Berman Academy for Humane Education established. , , 2002 , Amphibiville receives the National Exhibit Award. , , 2002 , Polar bear Bärle rescued from Suarez Brothers Circus in Puerto Rico. , , 2003 , The Detroit Zoo celebrates its 75th Anniversary. , , 2004 , Ruth Roby Glancy Animal Health Complex opens. , , 2005 , Detroit Zoo becomes the first major U.S. zoo to close its elephant habitat on ethical grounds. , , 2005 , Ford Education Center opens. , , 2006 , Australian Outback Adventure opens, allowing guests to walk with kangaroos and wallabies. , , 2006 , Detroit Zoological Society assumes daily operations and financial management of the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo. , , 2007 , Miniature railroad restored and named Tauber Family Railroad in honor of benefactors. , , 2007 , Giraffe Encounter opens. , , 2007 , Detroit Zoo's breeding program for federally endangered Wyoming toad is No. 1 on the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) list of the year's Top 10 wildlife conservation success stories. , , 2008 , Tri-county voters approve a millage to support the Detroit Zoo. , , 2009 , Wild Adventure 3-D/4-D Theater opens. , , 2009 , Center for Zoo Animal Welfare is created. , , 2010 , Detroit Zoological Society helps rescue and care for 27,000 animals seized in the largest exotic animal confiscation in U.S. history. , , 2011 , Science On a Sphere opens. , , 2011 , Carousel opens. , , 2012 , Cotton Family Wetlands opens. , , 2013 , Jane and Frank Warchol Beaver Habitat opens. , , 2015 , Cotton Family Wolf Wilderness opens. , , 2016 , Polk Penguin Conservation Center opens.