From Washington Park to Bluemound Road: The Wild Journey of Milwaukee’s First Zoo
April 25, 2025
🌳 It All Began in 1892…
Back in 1891, the city purchased 125 acres of land on Milwaukee’s west side, then called West Park. A year later, local philanthropists Colonel Gustave Pabst and General Louis Auer donated a small herd of deer, marking the start of Milwaukee’s first zoo.
West Park was no ordinary space — it was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the famous landscape architect behind New York City’s Central Park.
🗓️ Fun Fact: Over 12,000 trees and shrubs were planted between 1896–1897 to build out the zoo’s lush natural landscape.
🐘 The Zoo Grew Fast
The small deer paddock quickly expanded into a full-blown animal kingdom:
1893: Bear dens were added
1899: The Herbivorous Building opened
By 1902, the zoo spanned 23 acres and featured 800+ animals
By 1907, it ranked as the 6th largest zoo in the U.S.
Washington Park Zoo featured lions, sea lions, camels, buffalo, giraffes, and even the first “Monkey Island” in 1925 — an innovative exhibit that let monkeys roam on an actual island.
🐾 Timeline: From Roars to Relocation
Year
Event
1892
Zoo opens in West Park with donated deer
1900
Park renamed Washington Park
1910
Washington Park Zoological Society forms
1919
Zero the polar bear is born — first in U.S. captivity
1925
First “Monkey Island” exhibit debuts
1958
New zoo site opens on Bluemound Road
1963
Zoo officially completes move; Washington Park Zoo closes
📍 What’s There Now?
Although the animals are long gone, Washington Park still holds echoes of its zoo days. You can stroll past old stone structures, paddle across the lagoon, or sit under towering trees that once shaded roaring lions.
It’s not just a park — it’s a piece of Milwaukee’s wild history 🐾
