When Was Lincoln Park Zoo Built?

The Lincoln Park Zoo was built so long ago, this Chicago zoo actually has the distinction of being one of the oldest zoos in the nation. Its beginnings were humble, but it has really grown since it's first days.

The zoo was officially founded in 1868, which means that this establishment almost goes back to the Civil War times. However, it started off with only two swans, which were given to the Lincoln Park Commissioners as a gift. For quite awhile, the swans ruled the zoo, as no other animals came to live there.

Six years later though, it was time to expand. A bear cub, the first animal ever actually purchased by this zoo, joined the swans. The zoo really began to expand after that, and it even has the honor of being the birthplace of the first bison born into captivity.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the park underwent major renovations. The idea was to make the setting more natural. By doing so, the animals are able to feel much more at home and as if they are in their natural environment. Additionally, it provides a different view for the guests as well. They can see how the animals really live. In 2010, Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo, a pond habitat with many different species, was created.

Lincoln Park Zoo Attractions and Animals

Home to quite a vast number of creatures (230 species and 1200 animals), you will find a plethora of interesting attractions and exhibits at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

First, we will list some of the main attractions and exhibits, and then we will go on to tell you the different types of animals that you will see as you go through the zoo.

Attractions and Exhibits

• Regenstein African Journey
• McCormick Bear Habitat
• McCormick Bird House
• Regenstein Birds of Prey Exhibit
• Blum-Kovler Penguin Seabird House
• Helen Brach Primate House
• Kovler Lion House
• Kovler Sea Lion Pool
• Pritzker Family Children's Zoo
• Regenstein Small Mammal Reptile House
• Hope B. McCormick Swan Pond
• Flamingo Habitat
• Regenstein Center for African Apes
• Antelope and Zebra Area
• Farm in the Zoo presented by John Deere
• Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo

Animals

• Hoffman's two toed sloth
• Alpaca
• Bactrian camel
• Domestic cow
• Jacob sheep
• Sichuan takin
• Warthog
• White lipped deer
• African lion
• African wild dog
• Dwarf mongoose
• Jaguar
• Meerkat
• North American river otter
• Polar bear
• Puma
• Red panda
• Sand cat
• Snow leopard
• Egyptian fruit bat
• Straw colored fruit bat
• European rabbit
• Eastern black rhinoceros
• Allen's swamp monkey
• Francois' langur
• Pied tamarin
• Western lowland gorilla
• White cheeked gibbon
• White faced saki monkey
• American beaver
• Naked mole rat
• Aardvark
• Golded headed lion tamarin
• Egyptian goose
• Hottentot teal
• Mandarin duck
• Ruddy duck
• Tawny frogmouth
• Commom murre
• Piping plover
• Red knot
• Abdim's stork
• Scarlet ibis
• Snowy egret
• Nicobar pigeon
• Bald eagle
• Sunbittern
• Blue faced honeyeater
• Lesser green broadbill
• Yellow throated laughing thrush
• Black tree monitor
• Mexican beaded lizard
• Standing's day gecko
• Eastern fox snake
• Garter snake
• Great Plains ratsnake
• Kenyan sand boa
• Midland painted turtle
• Spotted turtle
• Yellow spotted Amazon River turtle
• Henkel's leaf tailed gecko
• Blanding's turtle
• Spider tortoise
• Wood turtle
• King baboon spider
• Electric blue cichlid
• Mouthbrooder
• Red devil cichlid
• Honeybee
• Leafcutter ant
• Walking stick

As you can see, there is plenty to do at the Lincoln Park Zoo.