Oregon Zoo History

The Washington Park Zoo, as it was then called, celebrated its 100th birthday in 1987. From its humble beginnings in the back of a pharmacy in downtown Portland to its prominence as the leading paid attraction in the state of Oregon, the zoo has seen a multitude of changes.

Year	Event
mid-1880s	Born out of his love for animals, Richard Knight, a former seaman turned pharmacist, began collecting animals from his seafaring friends. Knight kept his collection in the back of his drug store on Third & Morrison streets. Learn more.
1887	In 1887, Knight officially presented his collection to the city. The collection was moved to City Park (present water reservoir site at Washington Park) and Portland's first zoo was created. Park keeper Charles Meyers constructed the first sunken, barless cage in the world to house grizzly and Alaskan bears.
1894	The zoo collection grew to 300 specimens, mostly from North America.
1905	The zoo began a period of decline which continued until after World War II; a move to a higher, more remote part of Washington Park intensified the lack of interest.
circa 1920	One of our favorite historical photos shows Rose Festival princesses in the bear pits!
1947	Jack Marks became the zoo director and greater attention and effort was given to the zoo facilities and animals.
1951	Portland City Club recommended a new zoo and the city council accepted the recommendation to place a $3.85 million bond issue on the ballot to finance a new zoo on the 40-acre site of the West Hills Golf Course in Washington Park.
1953	Arrival of Rosy, Portland’s first Asian elephant.
1954	Ballot measure to finance new zoo passed after failing the first time.
1959	New zoo opened, renamed Portland Zoological Gardens. However, only 60 percent of the original master plan was completed due to increased construction costs, delays due to weather, etc. The zoo railway was included in the original tax levy, but was completed with the assistance of donations of time, money and materials.
1957, 1958 and 1962	Zoo Director Jack Marks led penguin expeditions to Antarctica and the penguin collection was started.
1962	Birth of Packy, the first elephant born in this country in 44 years. Packy and his mother, Belle, were purchased from Morgan Berry, who had been wintering his Asian elephants at the zoo. Attendance exceeded one million.
1963	The Children's Zoo opened in June of 1963, and brought in 149,000 visitors in its first summer. In addition to domesticated animals it featured boat rides, a merry-go-round, and the "Mole Hole," an underground tunnel with burrowing animals on exhibit.
late 60s	The late 60s was a time when naturalistic exhibits were not yet a concept. "Modern" meant bold colors and asymmetric structures, and the zoo reflected this trend.
1971	Portland Zoological Society assumed full management, though the zoo continued to be funded by the city of Portland. Because the burden became too great for either agency, the legislature passed laws which placed the zoo under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Service District, a special district government.
1975	Philip Ogilvie, Ph.D., resigned. Warren Iliff, formerly with the National Zoo, was selected director.
1976	Voters approved a five-year, $10 million levy for operating and capital expenses. The zoo was renamed Washington Park Zoo, following a contest.
1980	Voters approved a three-year $15 million serial levy. Remodel of the Asian elephant exhibit provided larger outdoor area and state-of-the-art elephant handling facilities. Remodel of the primate house.
1982	Completion of a major new exhibit with funds privately donated to the zoo, Cascade Streams and Pond, which won the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums' top exhibit award.
1983	Completely remodeled Penguinarium opened.
1985	Warren Iliff left to become director of the Phoenix Zoo. Gene Leo, formerly of Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, became the director. Completed Alaska Tundra, another major exhibit.
1986	Completed a major renovation of the west bear grottos and opened the polar bear and sun bear exhibits; renovations included remodeled facilities at Bear Walk Cafe. Opened elephant museum, built with private funds.
1987	Director Gene Leo resigned to become director of the Portland Rose Festival.
1988	Y. Sherry Sheng, former director of the Seattle Aquarium, became director. Opening of Africa Aviary and AfriCafe; new terraced concert lawn constructed. Began first ZooLights Festival as the zoo strengthened its efforts to increase enterprise revenues. Annual attendance exceeded one million for the second time in zoo history.
1989	Africa exhibit opened.
1990	Voters approved a $5.1 million permanent tax base for zoo operating support. Zoo began the development of a new long-range plan.
1991	Africa Rain Forest opened. Record attendance of 1.16 million. Began ZooBoo, a two-week Halloween event.
1993	Elk Meadow exhibit opened.
1996	Voters approved a bond measure for construction of the Great Northwest exhibit and a new entry village.
1997	Y. Sherry Sheng resigned.
1998	Tony J. Vecchio, director of the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, R.I., became director.
1998	The zoo officially became the Oregon Zoo to better reflect its location and its emphasis on native wildlife. A new entrance and the first phase of the Great Northwest exhibit, Cascade Crest, opened to the public.
1999	Lorikeet Landing and Amur Leopard exhibits opened.
2000	Steller Cove, marine life habitat exhibit, opened.
2001	Amazon Flooded Forest exhibit opened. Zoo was accepted as a member of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service California Condor Recovery Program.
2002	Zoo launched its Future For Wildlife conservation program. As part of this program, began breeding endangered Washington pygmy rabbits, western pond turtles, and Oregon silverspot butterflies for eventual reintroduction into the wild.
2003	Condors arrived to breeding facility in rural Clackamas County.
2004	Eagle Canyon exhibit opened. Trillium Creek Family Farm opened. This is the first exhibit run exclusively by teen volunteers.
2005	Oregon Zoo’s first-born condor chick was released into the wild at Pinnacles National Monument, California.
2006	Cougar Crossing exhibit opened
2007	Zoo visitors began paying an admission surcharge to support conservation programs in the Northwest. Black Bear Ridge exhibit opened, completing the zoo's Great Northwest section. Washington pygmy rabbits from the zoo's breeding program were released into the wild for the first time.