24 Fascinating Photos of Zoos From the Past

Zoos have been around for hundreds of years, but the modern zoo is a far cry from its roots. These days, admission costs a fortune, you have to pay for parking, and the animals may or may not be out for your viewing pleasure. Not to mention, there’s a clear barrier between the animals and spectators.

These vintage photos show a time when visiting the zoo allowed you to fully interact with all sorts of animals, and entertainment was at the forefront. 

1. Lustering the Turtles at the London Zoo (1930s)

2. Visiting With a Chimpanzee at the Zoo

3. Franklin Park Zoo in Boston

4. Gardener at the London Zoo Riding a Camel Lawn Mower (1913)

5. Feeding the Hippo at the Melbourne Zoo in Australia (1920s)

6. Zookeeper Giving Twinkles the Elephant a Shot of Water From a Hose (1970s)

7. Circus Strongman Paul Remos Lifting His Son Up To Feed a Giraffe at the London Zoo (1950)

8. Seal Pond at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago (1897)

9. Elephant Rides at Benson’s Zoo in New Hampshire (1931)

10. Audubon Park, Zoo, and Aquarium in New Orleans, Louisiana (1956)

11. Berlin Zoo Handler Giving Roland the Elephant Seal a Snow Bath (1930s)

12. Thought-Provoking Exhibit at the Bronx Zoo (1960)

13. Mr. Rogers Filming at the Pittsburgh Zoo (1970s)

14. Mary J. Wilson, the First African American Senior Zookeeper at the Baltimore Zoo (1966)

15. Brooke Shields Interning at the San Diego Zoo (1983)

16. Just Snuggling Lion Cubs at the Berlin Zoo, No Big Deal

17. Little Girl Holding a Baby Crocodile at the Chicago Zoo (1953)

18. Happy Hippo Taking a Nap at the London Zoo (1852)

19. Tiger Cubs Climbing on Their Keeper at the London Zoo (1937)

20. Little Girl Holding a Penguin’s Flipper While Walking Around the London Zoo (1937)

21. Zookeeper Caring for a Shoebill in Her Bathroom That Survived the Bombing of the Berlin Zoo (1943)

22. Little Girl Feeding a Porcupine at the London Zoo (1950s)

23. Walking an Alpaca at the London Zoo (1937)

24. Maori Children Riding the Elephant at the Wellington Zoo (1943)

Interested in more stories about animals?

We’ve got a couple you might enjoy. Start by reading 12 Exotic Animals That Rich People Actually Call Pets, then check out 25 Vintage Photos That Prove Pets Have Always Been Family. For a peek into the world of luxury pet care, don’t miss 10 Ways the Ultra-Wealthy Spoil Their Pets.