About Lincoln Park Zoo
A zoo is an excellent way to spend the day that a person of any age can enjoy. The Lincoln Park Zoo is one of five zoos in the Chicago area. This zoo offers many exhibits and many programs for people to explore. These include animals to see, classes to take and even yoga programs. The Lincoln Park zoo is open seven days a week, 365 days a year.
HISTORY
The Lincoln Park Zoo was founded in 1868 with two swans as their first exhibit. Shortly after, the Lincoln Park Commission purchased a bear cub, which escaped multiple times over it's lifespan. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the zoo underwent substantial changes, making it one of the largest and most modern zoos in the area. In 2005 the Zoological Society took over ownership and the day-to-day operations of the zoo from the Chicago Park District. Most recently the zoo transformed it's South Pond to create the Nature Boardwalk exhibit.
ANIMALS AND EXHIBITS
The Lincoln Park Zoo has over 1,200 animals. These include monkeys, reptiles, bears and penguins among many others. A famous zoo feature is a burr oak tree which dates to 1830.
A few of the Lincoln Park Zoo's exhibits include:
- Antelope and Zebra Area
- Blum-Kovler Penguin/Seabird House
- Helen V. Brach Primate House
- Farm-in-the-Zoo (presented by John Deere)
- Kovler Lion House
- Kovler Sea Lion Pool
- McCormick Bird House
- Hope B. McCormick Swan Pond
- Robert R. McCormick Bear Habitat
- Nature Boardwalk (around the South Pond)
- Pritzker Family Children's Zoo
- Regenstein African Journey
- Regenstein Birds of Prey Exhibit
- Regenstein Center for African Apes
- Regenstein Small Mammal/Reptile House
LOCATION, HOURS AND CONTACT INFORMATION
The Lincoln Park Zoo is located at 2200 N. Cannon Dr in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
The phone number for general inquiries is: (312) 742-2000
The Lincoln Park Zoo is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. November through March, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October.