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. 

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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.

The zoo collection grew to 300 specimens, mostly from North America.

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.

One of our favorite historical photos shows Rose Festival princesses in the bear pits!

The zoo hires its first full-time director, Cary Baldwin.

Arthur Greenhall is hired as zoo director.

Jack Marks became the zoo director and greater attention and effort was given to the zoo facilities and animals.

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.

On September 13, the zoo received its first Asian elephant, Rosy, courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Austin Fleg, Portland natives living in Thailand.

Ballot measure to finance new zoo passed after failing the first time.

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.

Zoo Director Jack Marks led penguin expeditions to Antarctica and the penguin collection was started.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jack Marks retired and Philip Ogilvie was hired as zoo director.

Philip Ogilvie resigned. Warren Iliff, formerly with the National Zoo, was selected director.

The zoo's volunteer program began.

Voters approved a five-year, $10 million levy for operating and capital expenses.

The zoo was renamed Washington Park Zoo, following a contest.

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.

The first Humboldt penguin egg hatched at the zoo — it was a female named Zimmie.

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.

Completely remodeled Penguinarium opened.

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.

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.

Director Gene Leo resigned to become director of the Portland Rose Festival.

Y. Sherry Sheng, former director of the Seattle Aquarium, became director.

Opening of Africa Aviary and AfriCafe; new terraced concert lawn constructed.

First ZooLights. This annual festival relies heavily on volunteers, who do everything from making displays to staffing the event.

Annual attendance exceeded one million for the second time in zoo history.

Africa exhibit opened.

Voters approved a $5.1 million permanent tax base for zoo operating support.

Zoo began the development of a new long-range plan.

Africa Rain Forest opened. Record attendance of 1.16 million.

Began ZooBoo, a two-week Halloween event.

Elk Meadow exhibit opened.

The zoo hosted the first conference on environmental enrichment for zoo animals.

Center for Species Survival opened.

Voters approved a bond measure for construction of the Great Northwest exhibit and a new entry village.

Director Y. Sherry Sheng resigned.

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.

Lorikeet Landing and Amur Leopard exhibits opened.

Steller Cove, marine life habitat exhibit, opened.

Amazon Flooded Forest exhibit opened.

Zoo was accepted as a member of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service California Condor Recovery Program.

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.

Condors arrived to breeding facility in rural Clackamas County.

Eagle Canyon exhibit opened.

Trillium Creek Family Farm opened, the first U.S. zoo exhibit run exclusively by teen volunteers.

Oregon Zoo’s first-born condor chick was released into the wild at Pinnacles National Monument, California.

Cougar Crossing exhibit opened.

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.

Construction under way for Predators of the Serengeti and Red Ape Reserve. Red Ape Reserve will house orangutans and gibbons together in an indoor-outdoor enclosure.

The zoo celebrates 50 years at its current location.

Director Tony J. Vecchio resigned.

Predators of the Serengeti opened, bringing lions, cheetahs, wild dogs and other African predators to the zoo.