About the Saint Louis Zoo

With the Arch overlooking the Mississippi River, Saint Louis, Missouri is internationally known for many things, including a wide range of sport teams: Cardinals baseball, Rams football and Blues hockey.  The Gateway to the West offers a variety of free recreation for individuals and families.  The Art Museum, The Science Center and The St. Louis Zoo are a few of the most visited facilities in the area.

The St. Louis Zoo is the number one animal attraction in the St. Louis area.  There are special events and a children’s petting zoo that costs a small fee; however, the St. Louis Zoo is actually one of the few free zoos in the nation.  The St. Louis community decided to purchase the large Aviation Flight Cage from the Smithsonian Museum after The World’s Fair was held in St. Louis during 1904.  The popularity of this walk-through bird cage encouraged community leaders to build a zoological attraction in Forest Park.

Over 100 years later, the St. Louis Zoo is one of the most reputable and innovative parks in the nation.  Families can enjoy the newly renovated elephant house or walk through a man-made Jurassic Park.  Take a ride on the Zooline Railroad or see one of over 5000 animals who call the St. Louis Zoo home. 

One of the most popular areas of the zoo is the new Caribbean Cove.  In this tribute to ocean life, visitors can touch, feed and even swim with the stingrays and sharks in 17,000 gallons of water.  If swimming with sharks is not on your list of things to do, consider a walk through Big Cat Country where lions, tigers and cheetahs roam free. 

Families can spend the day learning about animals, watching a 3D movie and dining in a relaxing atmosphere by the pond.  Visitors from around the world come to see the animals at the St. Louis Zoo every day of the year. From the tiniest creatures in the Insectariums to the monkeys in the Primate House, there is something for everyone at the St. Louis Zoo.