Lincoln Park Zoo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lincoln Park Zoo

Zoo administration building
Date opened	1868
Location	2204 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Land area	35 acres (14 ha)
Coordinates	41°55′17″N 87°38′02″W / 41.92139°N 87.63389°W / 41.92139; -87.63389
No. of animals	1,100
No. of species	200
Annual visitors	3.42 million
Memberships	AZA
Major exhibits	Farm-in-the-Zoo, Helen Brach Primate House, Pepper Family Wildlife Center, Kovler Seal Pool, McCormick Bird House, Nature Boardwalk, Pritzker Family Children's Zoo, Regenstein African Journey, Regenstein Center for African Apes, Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House

The Lincoln Park Zoo, also known as Lincoln Park Zoological Gardens, is a 35-acre zoo located in Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois. It first opened in 1868, making it one of the oldest zoos in North America. What's even cooler is that it's one of the few zoos in North America that you can visit for free!

The zoo is home to around 1,100 animals from about 200 different species. You can see amazing animals like big cats, polar bears, penguins, gorillas, reptiles, and monkeys. In 2019, the zoo also became an accredited arboretum, which means it's recognized for its amazing collection of trees and plants.

Sadly, a very old bur oak tree, estimated to be over 250 years old, was cut down in May 2023 because it was unhealthy. But don't worry, 36 new trees were grown from parts of the old tree and are now growing at the Morton Arboretum.

History

A photo of the bear exhibit at Lincoln Park Zoo, around 1897–1901

Aerial view of the zoo

The Nature Boardwalk

The zoo started in 1868 with a special gift: two pairs of swans from the Central Park Zoo in New York City. Soon, more animals were donated, including a puma, elk, wolves, eagles, and peacocks. In 1874, the zoo bought its first animal, a bear cub, for just $10! This bear was quite famous for escaping and exploring Lincoln Park at night.

In 1884, the first American bison born in captivity was born at the zoo. At that time, wild bison were almost extinct. Later, the U.S. government bought some bison from the zoo to help bring the species back in Yellowstone National Park.

From 1888 to 1919, the zoo's director was Cy DeVry. He helped organize the animal collection, built new buildings, and brought the zoo its first elephant and monkeys. A new Lion House opened in 1912. The Primate House opened in 1927 and was famous for housing Bushman, a popular gorilla.

In 1976, the zoo's great apes moved to the Lester E. Fisher Great Ape House. The old Primate House was updated and reopened in 1992 as the Helen Brach Primate House, with more natural-looking homes for the animals.

Marlin Perkins, who hosted the TV shows Zoo Parade and Wild Kingdom, was the zoo's director from 1944 to 1962. He helped create a group called the Lincoln Park Zoological Society to support the zoo. In 1995, this society took over running the zoo. The Kovler Sea Lion Pool was also updated in 1999 and is now home to the zoo's harbor seals.

In 2003, the Regenstein African Journey exhibit opened. It transformed the zoo's largest building into natural settings that show the wildlife of Africa. This exhibit brought back African elephants and giraffes and added new animals like aardvarks and African wild dogs. Two years later, the Regenstein Center for African Apes opened, focusing on common chimpanzees and western lowland gorillas. This center helps scientists study ape behavior.

In 2010, the zoo created the Nature Boardwalk from the nearby South Pond. This area is an ecological habitat with native plants and wildlife.

In 2011, the Kovler Penguin-Seabird House closed. It was replaced by the Regenstein Macaque Forest, which opened in 2014. This new exhibit features Japanese macaques, also known as "snow monkeys," in a cool habitat with a hot spring!

In 2014, the zoo announced plans to rebuild the Robert R. McCormick Bear Habitat. This new area would have a much larger home for the zoo's polar bear and a new habitat for African penguins, which opened in 2016.

The zoo also raised money for a big renovation of the old Kovler Lion House. This new exhibit, called the Pepper Family Wildlife Center, opened in 2021. It focuses on lions and other big cats. In 2022, a male lion cub named Pilipili was born, the first lion cub at the zoo in 20 years! Three more lion cubs were born in January 2023, bringing the total number of lions to eight.

Programming

A school field trip at the Kovler Seal Pool

The zoo offers many fun programs for young people. These include year-round camps and school field trips. The zoo also works with communities, helping to create green spaces and promote healthy eating through gardening programs.

The zoo also uses technology to study Chicago's wildlife with a project called Zooniverse. They place cameras around Chicago to take pictures of animals, and the public can help identify them! During the COVID-19 pandemic, the zoo even adapted many of its programs to be online.

Exhibits

The zoo is home to nearly 1,100 animals. Let's explore some of the main exhibits!

Walter Family Arctic Tundra

This new exhibit is home to the zoo's polar bears. It's much larger than their old home, with more land for them to explore. You can even watch the bears swim underwater! This area is designed to support a small family of bears.

Robert and Mayari Pritzker Penguin Cove

This outdoor exhibit is where you can see African penguins! You can watch these tropical penguins dive and swim. There's also a special area behind the scenes for hatching chicks. The exhibit opened in October 2016.

Regenstein Macaque Forest

Opened in 2014, this exhibit lets you get close to a group of 10–15 Japanese macaques, also known as "snow monkeys." The exhibit looks like a forest and even has a "hot spring" where the monkeys can warm up in winter. It's a fun place to watch these smart animals!

Regenstein African Journey

A black rhinoceros at Lincoln Park Zoo

The Regenstein African Journey is a huge indoor and outdoor exhibit that opened in 2003. It's designed to look like four different habitats from Africa. As you enter, you'll see monkeys in a rainforest setting. Other sections feature African rivers with dwarf crocodiles and pygmy hippos.

You'll also find an African savanna area with meerkats, aardvarks, and giraffes. Outside, there's a large savanna for giraffes and yards for African wild dogs, red river hogs, and black rhinos.

Regenstein Center for African Apes

A gorilla walks around at the zoo.

This center, opened in 2005, is dedicated to chimpanzees and western lowland gorillas. It has large indoor and outdoor spaces with trees, vines, and even fake termite mounds where chimpanzees can "fish" for treats using tools.

The exhibit has three big habitats. One is the Kovler Gorilla Bamboo Forest, an open-air home for the zoo's main gorilla group. Two other exhibits can house either chimpanzees or gorillas. Large glass panels let you get a close look at these amazing apes. This center also helps scientists study and protect apes in the wild.

Pritzker Family Children's Zoo

Opened in 2004, the Pritzker Family Children's Zoo lets you connect with wildlife found in eastern America. You can see small amphibians and reptiles in an indoor exhibit. There's also a fun play area for younger kids.

You can watch American beavers and North American river otters swim gracefully underwater. Outside, there are larger exhibits for American black bears and the endangered red wolf. You can even practice howling like a wolf!

Kovler Seal Pool

The Kovler Seal Pool

The Kovler Seal Pool has been a popular exhibit since 1879! It was last updated in 1999 to look more like the seals' natural home. You can watch the seals from different spots, including an underwater viewing area. The zoo's seals are trained twice a day and get fish as rewards. This pool is home to gray seals and harbor seals.

Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House

This indoor exhibit, opened in 1997, houses small animals in two main areas. The Gallery has many terrariums with reptiles and amphibians, plus small mammals around a fake baobab tree. The Ecosystem is a tall dome that looks like a tropical rainforest. Here, you can see animals like caimans, otters, and primates.

Regenstein Birds of Prey Exhibit

This outdoor exhibit lets you see powerful birds-of-prey up close. These birds, like vultures and bald eagles, play an important role in nature. You can see them perch on rocks or tree branches in their large homes.

Helen Brach Primate House

A De Brazza's monkey (Cercopithecus neglectus) at the zoo

The historic Primate House first opened in 1927. After a big renovation in 1992, it became the Helen Brach Primate House. It now has natural-looking exhibits that look like the swamps and rainforests where these animals live. You can see a family of white-cheeked gibbons and crowned lemurs here.

McCormick Bird House

The McCormick Bird House is one of the zoo's oldest buildings, first designed in 1904. It has been updated many times and now features different habitats like tropics, savannas, and wetlands. There's even a tropical free-flight area where birds fly around you! You can see famous birds like the laughing kookaburra and the critically endangered Bali myna.

Camel & Zebra Area

A Sichuan takin (Budorcas taxicolor tibetana)

This four-acre area, built in 1982, has large grassland exhibits for different hoofed animals. You can see Bactrian camels, Grévy's zebras, and even the endangered Sichuan takin. The zoo has been very successful in breeding Sichuan takins, with several babies born here! You might also spot red kangaroos.

Waterfowl Lagoon

This lagoon is home to the zoo's flock of nearly fifty Chilean flamingos. They use the mudflaps to build their nests. In winter, they move to an indoor Flamingo Habitat to stay warm. You can also see swan geese here.

Hope B. McCormick Swan Pond

The Lincoln Park Zoo started with a gift of swans. To remember this, a pair of trumpeter swans still live at the Hope B. McCormick Swan Pond. Many other types of waterfowl also call this pond home.

Farm-in-the-Zoo

The Farm-in-the-Zoo is designed to give city kids a chance to experience farm life. Opened in 1964, it has pigs, cows, horses, and other farm animals. You can pet and feed some animals and explore vegetable gardens. You can even watch cows being milked and learn about farm life!

Pepper Family Wildlife Center

Adelor, a male African lion in the Lincoln Park Zoo

The Kovler Lion House, built in 1912, is a historic building at the zoo's heart. It has housed many different big cats over the years. It was renovated and reopened in 2021 as the Pepper Family Wildlife Center. This new exhibit focuses on African lions, with natural-looking spaces for them. You can also see Canada lynx, Snow leopards, and red pandas here.

In March 2022, a male lion cub named Pilipili was born, the first lion cub at the zoo in 20 years! In January 2023, three more lion cubs were born, bringing the total number of lions in the pride to eight.

Former Exhibits

Bear Habitat

The Robert R. McCormick Bear Habitat used to be next to the Regenstein African Journey. It had natural exhibits for bears and wolves. It featured a large pool for polar bears. The exhibit closed in 2014 to make way for the new polar bear and penguin habitats you can see today.

Penguin-Seabird Exhibit

This historic exhibit, opened in the early 1980s, featured different types of penguins like rockhopper and king penguins, along with seabirds like tufted puffins. It had large pools and rocky cliffs to mimic their natural homes. This building closed in 2011 and was replaced by the Regenstein Macaque Forest. The birds moved to other zoos and aquariums.

Gallery

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  The trumpeter swans were the first gifts that founded the zoo and still present at the zoo.

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  Lincoln Park Zoo's Visitor Center

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  A lily in bloom, one of the many plants at the zoo

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  Giraffe exhibit

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  Nature Boardwalk

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  Blyth's hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus)

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  Cafe Brauer at the Nature Boardwalk

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  Siberian tiger at the zoo

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  Concert at the zoo on Earth Day

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  Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus)

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  The annual Zoolights tradition

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  Former elephant exhibit

See also

• List of museums and cultural institutions in Chicago