Prospect Park Zoo Brooklyn

Hey everyone, welcome back to *Brooklyn Echoes*, the podcast that keeps the borough’s legends and memories alive. I’m your host, Robert Henriksen.

Welcome to the Prospect Park Zoo: A Historical Adventure Up to the 1970s

Ladies and gentlemen, picture yourself transported back in time to the vibrant yet evolving world of early 20th-century New York City, where a modest collection of animals in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park grew into a beloved urban zoo. Nestled at 450 Flatbush Avenue within the sprawling 526-acre Prospect Park, this 12-acre gem, operated for decades by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, became a hub of wonder, education, and community. In this narration, we’ll explore its formation and history up to the 1970s—a period of highs and emerging challenges. Then, we’ll shift to a child’s perspective, reliving the magic of a visit back in the day, complete with school trips, animal encounters, and that innocent thrill of discovery. Let’s step into the past!

Our tale begins in the late 19th century, amid the green expanses of Prospect Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux and opened in 1867. By May 1890, an informal menagerie had taken shape, sparked by generous donations from prominent New Yorkers. The original residents included cinnamon bears, white deer, seals, buffalo, foxes, and even colorful peacocks strutting about. These early animals were housed in simple enclosures, drawing curious visitors who marveled at wildlife right in the heart of Brooklyn. By 1893, the collection had expanded, featuring elk, waterbucks, deer, elands, lions, monkeys, birds, and even hippopotami in ponds. It was a humble start, but one that captured the public’s imagination.

The menagerie continued to grow organically. In 1916, a two-story brick building was constructed to house monkeys and birds, providing better shelter and organization. Plans for an elephant house emerged around 1930, signaling ambitions for larger exhibits. But the real transformation occurred during the Great Depression. Under the dynamic leadership of Mayor Fiorello La Guardia and Parks Commissioner Robert Moses, the Prospect Park Zoo was formalized as part of a massive citywide revitalization effort. Funded by the Civil Works Administration and Works Progress Administration (WPA), construction began in 1934, employing thousands during tough economic times. The design was innovative: a semi-circular arrangement of red brick buildings with limestone trim, adorned with bas-relief scenes inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book.” These structures housed lions, elephants, monkeys, and more, creating a whimsical yet educational space.

On July 3, 1935, the zoo officially opened to the public, welcoming visitors with free admission and a focus on family entertainment. Attendance skyrocketed, reaching over a million visitors annually before World War II, as New Yorkers flocked to see exotic animals like Asian elephants, black rhinoceroses, tigers, leopards, jaguars, polar bears, brown bears, American black bears, and Asian black bears. Seals splashed in pools, hippos lounged in their enclosures, and birds like scarlet macaws and oriental pied hornbills added vibrant color. The zoo also featured American bison, elks, red deer, white-tailed deer, llamas, anteaters, cougars, and smaller creatures such as raccoons, red foxes, red squirrels, and various frogs like Argentine horned frogs and Asian horned frogs. It was a Noah’s ark of sorts, blending North American wildlife with international species.

The post-war years brought continued popularity but also challenges. In the late 1940s and 1950s, the zoo celebrated births of several animals, boosting its appeal. Exhibits remained focused on larger mammals, with elephants receiving dental exams and other care that fascinated onlookers. By the 1960s, however, signs of wear emerged. Maintenance lagged amid city budget strains, and enclosures—once state-of-the-art—began to feel outdated. Animals like the pacing tigers, swaying bears, and shedding buffaloes reflected the era’s less naturalistic approach to zookeeping. Into the 1970s, attendance dipped as urban decay affected parks citywide, with dilapidated structures and emerging concerns about animal welfare. Yet, the zoo endured as a community staple, drawing school groups and families for educational outings that sparked lifelong curiosity about nature.

Now, let’s switch gears and imagine the zoo through the wide-eyed wonder of a child. I’ll narrate this next part as if I’m that kid, recalling a school trip in the mid-1960s—say, 1965, when I was about 10 years old. Back then, a visit to the Prospect Park Zoo felt like stepping into a real-life adventure book, full of roars, splashes, and feathers!

Oh boy, I can still remember that crisp autumn morning in 1965 when my fourth-grade class piled onto the yellow school bus for our big field trip to the Prospect Park Zoo. We were all buzzing with excitement—Mrs. Thompson had been talking about it for weeks in science class, showing us pictures of animals from faraway places like Africa and Asia. “This is where you’ll see wildlife up close and learn about their habitats,” she’d say. The bus rumbled through Brooklyn streets, and as we pulled up to Flatbush Avenue, I pressed my nose against the window, spotting the zoo’s entrance with its funny Jungle Book carvings on the buildings. It looked like a castle for animals!

We tumbled out, lunch bags in hand, and lined up at the gate. Admission was free back then, which made it even more special—no need for allowance money! The zoo wasn’t huge, just a cozy loop of paths and buildings, perfect for little legs. First stop: the seal pool in the center. Those California seals were the stars! They’d bark and clap their flippers during feeding time, splashing water that sometimes sprayed us kids giggling at the fence. I remember one seal named Sammy—or at least that’s what I called him—diving for fish tossed by the keeper. “Look how smart they are!” my friend Joey yelled. Next, we headed to the elephant house. There were Asian elephants swaying gently in their enclosure, trunks waving like giant snakes. One even got a dental check-up once, but on our visit, they just munched hay. The teacher explained how they came from India, and we all drew sketches in our notebooks.

Wandering further, we peeked into the lion building. The mangy lions paced back and forth in their cages, roaring lowly—it gave me chills, but in a thrilling way, like in a Tarzan movie. Nearby, the tigers did the same, their stripes glowing under the sun. “They’re from the jungle,” Mrs. Thompson said, tying it to our lesson on ecosystems. The bears were my favorite, though—polar bears, brown bears, and black bears in pits that seemed deep and mysterious. One swayed side to side, which made me sad, but the keeper assured us they were well-fed. We saw hippos submerging in their pool, only nostrils peeking out, and buffaloes shedding fur like old coats. Monkeys swung in their brick house, chattering and grabbing bananas—reminded me of recess chaos!

The bird aviary was a riot of color: scarlet macaws squawking, oriental hornbills with big beaks, and even snowy owls hooting softly. Smaller animals dotted the paths too—raccoons scampering, red foxes curling up, and deer grazing peacefully. We spotted bison and elks that looked straight out of the Wild West stories my dad read me. For lunch, we picnicked on the grass near the zoo, trading sandwiches while recounting our favorite sights. The whole trip tied into school: We wrote reports afterward about animal adaptations, and I got an A on mine about seals!

As the bus pulled away that afternoon, I gazed back at the zoo, dreaming of returning with my family. It wasn’t perfect—the enclosures felt small, and some animals seemed bored—but for a city kid like me, it was pure magic, sparking a love for nature that stuck. School trips like that made learning fun, turning Brooklyn’s backyard into a world of wonders.

And there you have it—a glimpse into the Prospect Park Zoo’s early decades, from its scrappy beginnings to its role as a cherished escape. Though challenges loomed by the 1970s, its legacy of delighting generations endures. Thank you for joining this historical narration—may it inspire your own explorations!

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