Mary Niehls

Elmwood Park Zoo was founded in 1924 when a private landowner donated a small piece of property and a handful of white-tailed deer to the Borough of Norristown. Run by the Borough as a division of Elmwood Park, the Zoo exhibited a collection of animals throughout the 1920s, including monkeys, bears, peacocks, deer, raccoons, and rabbits. Popular for its exhibits, the Zoo was also a destination because of the natural spring that provided clean water to borough residents. The Zoo expanded and changed over the decades. Advances in animal care changed exhibits from bare wire-cages (which was the standard in the 1920s) into more naturalistic exhibits that would give comfort to the animals. The Zoo developed a focus on North and South American animals, and though ownership and operation continued to come from the Borough, the Zoo was supported by the Norristown Zoological Society, a group of community-minded citizens who oversaw programs, and donated their time and money to support the Zoo. Today, Elmwood Park Zoo welcomes over 500,000 visitors annually for an educational adventure in a fun, clean, and family-oriented environment. Though constantly expanding and improving, the Zoo retains much of its history. The old Spring House has become an administrative office, and the original Zoo office, constructed in 1924, still stands toward the rear of the Zoo. Elmwood Park Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The Norristown Zoological Society operates the Zoo; the Board of Directors, composed of business and community leaders, is committed to the Zoo's mission of fostering an appreciation of wildlife and the environment that will inspire active participation in conservation.