History

Bear Bronze Statue

History of the Little Rock Zoological Gardens

The Little Rock Zoo first brought wildlife to Arkansas in 1924, and today, it's home to over 400 animals representing more than 100 species, including mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and invertebrates. For nearly a century, we've created engaging experiences that inspire people to value and conserve the natural world.

Want to dive deeper into the Zoo’s rich history? Check out our blog post that takes a closer look at the milestones and stories that have shaped the Little Rock Zoo over the years. Below is a timeline highlighting key moments in our journey of conservation learning.

1924 - 1960

1924 The Little Rock Zoo was long thought to have been established in 1926. However, recent discoveries revealed that its origins trace back to 1924, when the Zoo began with just two animals: a timber wolf and a circus-trained brown bear.
1927 Buffalo exhibit built at Fair Park Zoo.
1932 The Zoo was renamed Fair Park Zoological Garden.
1933-1936 New buildings were added, including the Big Cat House (now Café Africa), the Monkey House (now the Reptile and Tropical Bird House), and a concession stand later transformed into the Elephant House.
1937 Ruth the elephant was purchased from Engesser Circus, marking the start of the Zoo’s long-standing history of caring for elephants.
1939 The Zoo was renamed Fair Park Zoo.
1942 The Over-the-Jumps carousel arrived at Fair Park it spent several years there before being restored and moved to the Zoo.
1947 The Zoo celebrated Ruth’s 34th birthday with over 5,000 guests and a 1,000-pound cake from Colonial Bakery.
1948 Fair Park was renamed War Memorial Park.
1952 The Zoo acquired Big Arkie, believed to be the largest alligator found in the U.S., measuring 13 feet long and weighing 459 pounds.
1954 Ellen the elephant arrived as a companion for Ruth.

1961 - 1980

1962 Interstate I-630 cut off Zoo expansion to the south, reducing the Civitan Kiddie Zoo and other exhibits.
1963 The Little Rock Zoo, along with city parks were desegregated.
1966 The Federal Animal Welfare Act led the Zoo to shift towards more natural exhibits.
1967-1968 New entry complex, small carnivore area, and bear exhibits were completed, including the now-iconic “Echo Dome.”
1971 The Big Three Project introduced Monkey and Chimpanzee Islands and transformed the Reptile House into the Tropical Bird House.
1972 The first Zoo Days event was held.
1975 The Zoo’s docent volunteer program was established, fostering education, volunteerism, and fundraising.
1980 The “Bring Down the Bars” campaign launched, leading to the construction of a new big cat exhibit.

1981-2000

1981 The Zoo charged its first admission fees, generating $3,000 in its first week.
1985 The Zoo received its first accreditation from the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AAZPA), now known as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
1988 The Great Ape habitat opened, providing a new home for gorillas, orangutans, and chimpanzees.
1992 The first Boo at the Zoo event was held, continuing for over 30 years.
1997 The former Chimpanzee Island is converted into Lemur Island, featuring Ringtail, Black, and Red-Ruffed Lemurs.
1999 Michael E. Blakely became Zoo Director, and the Zoo became its own City department.

2001 - Present

2003 The City passed a bond election, giving the Zoo $4.6 million for projects including a new entry plaza, gift shop, and Lorikeet Landing.
2007 The renovated Café Africa opened, the Over-the-Jumps Carousel was donated to the Zoo by Friends of the Carousel, and the Lorikeet exhibit debuted.
2009 The African Savannah exhibit opened.
2010 The Zoo’s Elephant Exhibit was remodeled to hold up to four elephants, and the Zoo became smoke-free.
2011 The Laura P. Nichols Penguin Pointe Exhibit opened, and Ellen and Mary, two beloved elephants, passed away within months of each other.
2012 The Laura P. Nichols Cheetah Outpost opened, and the Zoo’s accreditation with AZA was renewed.
2015 The Reticulated Python exhibit was remodeled, and a baby chimpanzee, Jumoke, was born.
2016 The Arkansas Heritage Farm opened, and Susan Altrui became the first female director of the Zoo.
2018 The Zoo broke ground on a new Colobus Monkey and Serval Cat habitat and opened the Blue & You Foundation Sensory Garden and Play Area.
2019 Trudy the gorilla passed away at 63, she was the oldest gorilla living in human care at the time.
2020 The Zoo temporarily closed due to the global pandemic.
2021 The Colobus Monkey and Serval habitats opened, and GloWild is offered for the first year replacing Boo at the Zoo.
2022 The Zoo celebrated the Year of the Tiger, highlighted by the birth of three female Malayan tiger cubs. This year, the Zoo also became the first organization in Arkansas to receive Sensory Inclusive certification from KultureCity. Dual-language signage, in both English and Spanish, was installed at the entrance, with plans to expand this throughout the Zoo.
2023 Zoo begins partnership with the SSA group who take over operations of the Café and Gift Shop.
2024 The Zoo announces plans to bring Komodo dragons and celebrates the Year of the Dragon.

A Legacy of Conservation and Education at Little Rock Zoo

As we celebrate the Zoo's journey from its founding to the present day, we're reminded that the story is far from over. With ongoing efforts to conserve species, educate the public, and advocate for a sustainable future, the Little Rock Zoo's legacy is one of hope, transformation, and a shared responsibility to care for the planet and its inhabitants.

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