Believed to have been established shortly after 1904, Wildwood Park & Zoo began when utility workers took care of two black bears.  In 1910, it became the Mayor's duty to care for the animals at the fledgling zoo until a zookeeper was hired.  Wildwood Park received its name in 1923 with the Zoo officially dedicated in a cermony on July 27, 1930.  The zoo housed many animals from around the world including zebras and gibbons.

Today, the zoo spans more than 60 acres and is home to many different North American animals.  The zoo has focused on native animal species that can only be found in North America in order to better take care of the animals in winter and to allow the outdoor zoo to be open year-round for our guests!

Take a stroll back in time and look through our archive of historic photos and documents from the beginning of Wildwood Park & Zoo to the present.

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Early 1900's1 document

• First Bears at Wildwood Park
  document seq 0.00