It Started With a Deer…
Like most U.S. zoos, the Oklahoma City Zoo started as an accident. In 1902, a deer was donated to neighborhood Wheeler Park, near downtown. Because white-tailed deer were nearly extinct at the turn-of-the-century, it attracted crowds. Soon, other native animals were donated; bears, golden eagles, wolves and more. On Sept 7, 1903, a dedication ceremony made Wheeler Park Zoo the “first official zoo in the Southwest.”
Flooding Moves the Zoo
Wheeler Park was located along the North Canadian River, renamed Oklahoma River in 2004. Since the river was not yet dammed, rising water often flooded the park. In 1923, a huge storm left the zoo 10-feet underwater. Officials decided that Wheeler Park should close. Surviving animals were temporarily transferred to the state fairgrounds until a new location could be found.
Lincoln Park, the zoo’s current location, was purchased in September 1923. Businessmen and donors helped fund the new exhibits and animals for Lincoln Park Zoo. After a year of development, the zoo reopened in June 1924. The city Parks Department hired the zoo’s first official director, Leo Blondin, whose biggest contribution was to make the zoo more child-friendly and educational.
An Oklahoma City Landmark
Around 1960, Lincoln Park Zoo became known as Oklahoma City Zoo. In 2001, it was renamed the Oklahoma City Zoological Park and Botanical Garden. The zoo is recognized for its high standards of care and conservation, and continues to be a favorite destination in Oklahoma.