Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
Website:
https://www.pittsburghzoo.org
Telephone Number:
(412) 665-3640
Location:
7370 Baker Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Description:
More than a century ago, philanthropist Christopher Lyman Magee donated $125,000 for the construction of a zoological garden in Pittsburgh’s Highland Park neighborhood. On June 14, 1898, the Pittsburgh Zoo opened its gates to the public, providing visitors with a rare glimpse of animals and plants they had never seen before. Fitting in with the paradigm of the day, the Zoo resembled more of an animal menagerie than it does today. Through the years, the Zoo has been transformed, incorporating naturalistic habitats for a great variety of species, as well as becoming a resource for conservation, education, and research.
The first steps toward Zoo improvement for animals and guests began in 1937 with the addition of outdoor bear exhibits. In 1949, Pittsburgh’s first Children’s Zoo opened thanks to a generous grant from the Sarah Mellon Scaife Foundation. In the 40 years that followed, children delighted in the charming and imaginative exhibits, like walking into the mouth of whale with its soft spongy tongue, and the giant hunk of cheese that was home to dozens of mice. When the AquaZoo opened in 1967, it was the only public aquarium in Pennsylvania and the second largest aquarium in the country. To this day, Pittsburgh remains noteworthy for offering a rare combination of Zoo and Aquarium.
