American Zoo Day Date in the current year: July 1, 2024

A zoo (short for zoological garden) is a facility where animals are held in enclosures and displayed to the public for entertainment and education. In many modern zoos, animals are also bred for conservation purposes.

The precursor to the modern zoo is the menagerie, a collection of captive animals kept for display. Menageries originated in the ancient times and were typically owned by aristocratic or royal families. The world’s oldest zoo still in operation, Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna (Tiergarten Schönbrunn), started as an imperial menagerie of Francis I and Maria Theresa, the emperor and empress of the Habsburg monarchy.

The main purpose of menageries was to symbolize royal power and entertain the high society. Modern zoos, designed to educate the general public about the various species of animals, began to emerge in major European cities in the early 19th century. They were typically supported by local businesses and scientific societies.

The first zoo in the United States opened in Philadelphia. Its inauguration was inspired by the opening of the London Zoo in 1847. The Zoological Society of Philadelphia was incorporated in 1859, but the opening of the zoo was delayed by the Civil War. The Philadelphia Zoological Garden officially opened its doors to the public on July 1, 1874. The anniversary of its opening is now celebrated as American Zoo Day.

As of 2020, there were 230 accredited zoos and aquariums in the United States, accommodating 800,000 animals of 6,000 species, including about 1,000 endangered species. Accredited zoos and public aquariums are members of the Associations of Zoos and Aquariums, a nonprofit organization dedicated to their advancement in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.

The best zoos in the United States, according to Time Out, are the San Diego Zoo (CA), Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium (NE), Denver Zoo (CO), the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium (PA), the Dallas Zoo (TX), the Bronx Zoo (New York City, NY), the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (OH), the Oregon Zoo (Portland, OR), Brookfield Zoo Chicago (IL), the Oakland Zoo (CA), the Alaska Zoo (Anchorage, AK), the Blank Park Zoo (Des Moines, IA), the Houston Zoo (TX), San Francisco Zoo & Gardens (CA), Woodland Park Zoo (Seattle, WA), Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago, IL), the Memphis Zoo (TN), Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park (Bay Lake, FL), the Saint Louis Zoo (St. Louis, MO), the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (Liberty Township, OH), the Smithsonian’s National Zoo (Washington, D.C.), the Phoenix Zoo (AZ), Zoo Miami (FL), the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (Palm Springs, CA), the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium (MO), the Indianapolis Zoo (IN), the NEW Zoo & Adventure Park (Suamico, WI), Zoo Knoxville (TN), Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo (IN), and, of course, the Philadelphia Zoo (PA).

There are many ways to celebrate American Zoo Day. You can visit your local zoo or arrange a trip to a famous zoo you’ve always wanted to visit (don’t forget to take a “zoo-fie” with your favorite animal in the background), symbolically adopt a zoo animal to support your favorite zoo, learn interesting facts about American zoos, and spread the word about the holiday on social media with the hashtag #AmericanZooDay.