Zoo Memory Project

"A life without stories would be no life at all. And stories bound us, did they not, one to another, the living to the dead, people to animals, people to the land."
-Alexander McCall Smith

About the Project

The Zoo Memory Project is a year-long effort to collect and share memories of the Saint Louis Zoo as we prepare to celebrate our centennial in 2010. We understand that our history can be told in any number of ways -- it can be told through attendance figures or through timelines or through honors received.

The way we prefer to examine our history is through the voices of the people who have not only welcomed the Zoo into their city but who have welcomed it into their hearts. Some will remember their favorite animal. Others will remember their first visit with their grandfather or grandmother. Others will remember how the Zoo served as a sort of oasis, a place where worries about family or money or the neighborhood could be put aside, at least for an afternoon.

The Zoo is home to more than just animals and plants; it is also home to these stories.

Behind-the-Scenes Stories

In this sneak peek at Zoo staff stories for the exhibit, you'll hear Meg White describe her trip across the country to visit former Saint Louis Zoo animals, Eric Miller recalling the last days of a sick gorilla, and Thodie Alexander explaining his close relationship with the birds in the Flight Cage.

Slide Shows

Step back in time with these historical photographs. (To see captions while watching the slideshows click the four arrows button on the bottom right for a full screen view and then click the "Show info" button on the top right.)