Fairmount Park in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Philadelphia Zoo

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 30, 2012

1. The Philadelphia Zoo Marker

Chartered in 1859 as the Philadelphia Zoological Garden, the Philadelphia Zoo first opened on July 1, 1874.

Inscription. “America’s First Zoo.” Chartered 1859 as the Zoological Society of Philadelphia. A wildlife refuge and a zoological garden, the zoo has long been committed to fulfilling its public mission: conservation, research, education, recreation.

Erected 1996 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Education. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1859.

Location. 39° 58.489′ N, 75° 11.742′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Fairmount Park. It is on Zoological Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3400 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia PA 19104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Historic Architecture (within shouting distance of this marker); A Bright Future (within shouting distance of this marker); America's First Zoo (within shouting distance of this marker); Colobus monkey (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dr. Andrew Jackson Baker IV (about 400 feet away); Ossabaw Island hog

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(about 700 feet away); 2017 Green Award Winner (about 700 feet away); The Solitude (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Welcome back! (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . .
1. About America’s First Zoo. Philadelphia Zoo website entry (Submitted on October 9, 2012, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

2. MarkerQuest - The Philadelphia Zoo. Further information and links pertaining to America's first zoo. (Submitted on May 16, 2019, by Laura Klotz of Northampton, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 30, 2012

2. The Philadelphia Zoo Marker

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 30, 2012

3. The Philadelphia Zoo Marker

Nearby signage for the zoo also noting that Philadelphia's is <i>America's First Zoo</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 5, 2022

4. Nearby signage for the zoo also noting that Philadelphia's is America's First Zoo

The Philadelphia Zoo Main Gate image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Larry Gertner, September 2014

5. The Philadelphia Zoo Main Gate

Photographed by Larry Gertner, September 2014

6. A gatehouse

Credits. This page was last revised on May 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 9, 2012, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,121 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 9, 2012, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4. submitted on February 7, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 5, 6. submitted on August 1, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.