Philadelphia Zoo
Zoo in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Photos by Peter Barrett Bryan, Praswin Prakashan on Unsplash
About
The Philadelphia Zoo is a zoo located in the Centennial District of Philadelphia on the west bank of the Schuylkill River. It was the first true zoo in the United States; it was chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on March 21, 1859, but its opening was delayed by the Civil War until July 1, 1874. The zoo opened with 1,000 animals and an admission price of 25 cents. For a brief time, the zoo also housed animals brought to U.S. from safaris by the Smithsonian Institution, which had not yet built its National Zoo.
The Philadelphia Zoo is one of the premier zoos in the world for breeding animals that are difficult to breed in captivity. The zoo also works with many groups around the world to protect the natural habitats of the animals in their care.
Nearby
More to see within walking distance
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Art museum in Pennsylvania, United States
0.9 mi away
Centennial Exposition
World's fair held in Philadelphia in 1876
0.8 mi away
Columbia Park
Former baseball park in Philadelphia (1901-1908)
0.9 mi away
Drexel Dragons
Intercollegiate sports teams of Drexel University
1.0 mi away
Rocky Steps
Iconic construction in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1.0 mi away
44th and Parkside Ballpark
Former athletics field and ballpark in West Parkside, Philadelphia
1.0 mi awayPlaces to eat nearby
Finding places to eat…
Traveler reviews
Tickets & tours
Tickets and tours for Philadelphia Zoo
We may earn a commission from some of these links, at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Photos from Unsplash, Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA); facts from Wikipedia; maps © OpenStreetMap contributors, weather from Open-Meteo. Huginn’s tips are AI-written — check prices, hours and entry rules before you go.