Zoo Atlanta's celebrates 125th Birthday
This March, Zoo Atlanta — the oldest cultural institution in Atlanta — officially turns 125 years old. It’s amazing when you think about it: the Zoo has been community supported since 1889—a time when there were no cars, no planes and only 40 states in the union, a time when the Georgia State Capitol was the tallest building in Atlanta’s skyline.
The early beginnings of Zoo Atlanta sound more like a Hollywood screenplay than historical facts. After Colonel G.W. Hall’s Railroad Show & Bingley’s Monster European Menagerie breaks down in Grant Park, a local lumber businessman named George Valentine Gress buys the collection and donates all the animals to the City of Atlanta. Since the jaguar, hyena, black bear, raccoon, elk, gazelle, Mexican hog, lioness, puma, camels and snakes were already situated in Grant Park, the City decided to keep them there. Atlanta’s first zoological garden was born—joining only 12 other cities in having a zoo at that time.
Gress’s generosity set a tone for the future of Zoo Atlanta. Community involvement has always been part of our Zoo’s life, with private citizens donating animals, Atlanta newspapers heralding new arrivals, and supporters spearheading fund drives to reinvent the Zoo with natural exhibits that made Willie B. a household name and helped to build one of the most successful giant panda breeding programs in the country. Without this vital community support, Zoo Atlanta would never see another anniversary, let alone 125 of them.
One of the most memorable years in Zoo Atlanta’s history was 1999, when Lun Lun and Yang Yang traveled all the way from China to make a home (and cubs!) here in Atlanta on November 5, 1999. That day changed Zoo Atlanta forever. Through 14 years of caring for giant pandas, they’ve had five cubs and have raised millions toward the conservation of wild giant pandas. Thank you for all of your enthusiastic support.
Source: Zoo Atlanta
