Editing Philadelphia Zoo Opening (section)

== Founding ==

The idea for a Philadelphia zoo originated in the 1850s, when civic leaders sought to create educational and recreational institutions appropriate to a great American city. The Zoological Society of Philadelphia was chartered by the state legislature on March 21, 1859, becoming the first organization specifically founded to create and operate a zoo in America. The Society's founders included prominent Philadelphians from business, medicine, and academia, who envisioned a zoological garden that would combine scientific study, public education, and wholesome recreation. Plans were well advanced when the outbreak of the Civil War diverted attention and resources, forcing the project into abeyance.<ref name="zsa">{{cite web |url=https://www.philadelphiazoo.org/about/our-history/ |title=Our History |publisher=Philadelphia Zoo |access-date=December 29, 2025}}</ref>

After the war, the Zoological Society revived its plans, selecting a 42-acre site in Fairmount Park on the west bank of the Schuylkill River. The location offered scenic grounds that had once been the Solitude estate, an 18th-century country house that was incorporated into the zoo's landscape. Construction began in 1873, with buildings designed in Victorian architectural styles appropriate to the animals they would house. The zoo officially opened on July 1, 1874, charging 25 cents admission (10 cents for children). Opening-day crowds exceeded 3,000 visitors, and the zoo quickly became one of the city's most popular attractions.<ref name="kisling"/>