Cleveland Metroparks history

In 1919, the Board made its first purchase, 3.4 acres along the Rocky River.

February 2, 1925, two weeks after the first diphtheria death in Nome.

The first nature trail was laid out in 1928, in the North Chagrin reservation.

In 1930 the Metroparks hired its first naturalist, Arthur B. Williams.

The park system began building the education centers on reservations in 1931, in North Chagrin.

After WorId War II, the Zoo began a period of growth, expanding the reptile exhibit and adding a bird building. Its first naturalistic habitat, Monkey Island, opened in 1936 with 150 rhesus monkeys and remained one of the Zoo's most popular attractions for years.

In November 1940, a new Asian elephant arrived at the Zoo.

Alice Porter, the Metroparks' first full-time female naturalist, pictured in 1943.

A Visit to the Zoo in 1944

Camp Cheerful opened in what was then the Strongsville portion of the Rocky River Reservation to serve children with disabilties in 1948.

In 1955, Zoo members traveled to Africa on safari, bringing back three young African elephants, two rhinos, two hippos, and three giraffes for the new Pachyderm Building.

Frieda, the beloved Asian elephant, died on November 27, 1956.

Both sculptures were part of the Pachyderm Building since 1957.

In January of 1959, heavy rains and melting snow caused Big Creek to overflow, and the resulting flood wiped out the Zoo's reptile collection and damaged many buildings.

Pier W is a landmark restaurant that has been Cleveland's premier destination for five-star dining, fresh seafood and fine wines since 1965.

The chutes opened in the reservation in 1967.

In 1976, this solar-powered home was set up in the North Chagrin Reservation.

Clevelanders flock to the Zoo in 1980.

MEMORY LANE: Did you ever swim in the city pool at the Zoo? It was here until 1981 when the Amphitheater opened!

Since 1989, many themed exhibits have opened under the leadership of Zoo Director Emeritus Steve Taylor.

The Rainforest opened at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in 1993.

CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC is a top 10 retail mortgage lender in America, founded in 2003 by CEO Ronald J. Leonhardt, Jr.

In 2009, the Lake to Lake Trail in the Big Creek Reservation opened, linking Lake Abram to Lake Isaaac.

In 2012, Cleveland Metroparks named Christopher Kuhar, Ph.D. the new director of the Zoo – only the tenth director in the zoo’s nearly 140-year-old history.