The Saint Louis Zoo has educated, entertained and earned a place in the hearts of St. Louisans for generations. With the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904, there began a long and slow process to establish a zoological park. Sure enough, local pride in the giant elliptical bird cage led to formation of a St. Louis Zoological Society in 1910. The City of St. Louis set aside 77 acres in Forest Park for a zoo and named a Zoological Board of Control in 1913. State legislation provided that "the zoo shall be forever free," which has kept the Zoo accessible to millions of visitors ever since. Zoo Timeline1904: World's Fair Flight Cage
1910: establishment of Zoological Park
1921: Bear Pits, Primate House, Reptile House
1930: Bird House, giant pandas, Phil the gorilla and Miss Jim
1962: Zooline Railroad and renovation
1972: ZMD tax and Big Cat Country
1983: ZMD tax increase and Jungle of the Apes
1989: The Living World and Veterinary Hospital
1998: new Children's Zoo
2000: River's Edge, Insectarium, new Zoo president
2003: Penguin & Puffin Coast, Conservation Carousel,
WildCare Institute, Cypress Swamp and Fragile Forest
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