Major Events in Zoo History

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Establishment of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia 1859

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Philadelphia Zoo grand opening July 1, 1874

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: First-of-its-kind animal health laboratory established at Zoo 1901

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Bird House opens 1916

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: First successful birth of orangutan in U.S. zoo 1928

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: History of Philadelphia Zoo: Zoo wired for electricity 1928

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: First successful birth of chimpanzee in U.S. zoo 1928

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Leo, the MGM lion, retires to the Zoo after a 15-year movie career March 1931

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Zoo develops first scientifically controlled diets, "zoocake" 1935

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: First Children's Zoo in the western hemisphere opens 1938

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: New Elephant House opens 1941

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Carrot juice introduced into flamingo diet to help them retain their pink color 1948

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Carnivora House opens 1951

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Bird Valley opens 1954

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: First cheetahs born in zoos 1956

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Children's Zoo opens 1957

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Centennial of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia 1959

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Rare Mammal House opens 1965

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Small Mammal House opens 1967

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Monorail opens 1969

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Reptile House opens 1972

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Docent Council established 1972

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Centennial of Zoo Opening July 1, 1974

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Zoo becomes one of the first officially accredited 1974

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: African Plains completed 1975

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Zoo Education Department established 1976

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: "Rocky proposes to Adrian" in front of the Carnivora House 1979

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Bear Country opens April 1980

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: First successful birth of an echidna in North America April 1983

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Massa, the world's oldest gorilla, dies December 31, 1984

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Treehouse opens April 1985

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: World of Primates opens June 1986

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Naked mole-rat exhibit opens January 1992

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Carnivore Kingdom opens April 25, 1992

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Newly renovated Amphibian and Reptile House opens June 1998

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: PECO Primate Reserve opens July 1999

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: "Starfire" the king cobra becomes the oldest living in the world August 2001

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Channel 6 Zooballoon® launched June 2002

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: First successful birth of a giant river otter in North America March 2004

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Newly renovated Tastykake Children’s Zoo opens May 2004

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: First Hosmer’s skinks born outside of Australia May 2004

• History of Philadelphia Zoo: Bank of America Big Cat Falls opens May 2006

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