Sacramento Zoo history

The zoo opened as the 4.2-acre (1.7 ha) "William Land Park Zoo" on June 2, 1927, with 40 animals brought together from various local parks, including monkeys, raccoons, birds, and deer.

In 1948, the Sacramento Union newspaper sponsored a drive to raise money to buy the zoo an elephant.

In the fall of 1949, SUE (the “Sacramento Union Elephant”), so named by local teenage sisters Jacklyn and Carolyn Bolton via a contest sponsored by the Union, arrived at the zoo, much to the delight of area visitors.

In 1955, the zoo bought “Winky”, Sue’s companion.

The year 1958 also brought along the start of the zoo’s educational programming, at that time, one of only nine zoos in the United States to have such a program.

In 1965, the zoo received its first grizzly bear and two orangutans, and began charging 25 cents for admission.

The current name was adopted in 1970, along with the completion of the reptile house and the creation of a docent program.

On April 6, 2007, an exhibit featuring six penguins opened to the public.

In 2009, the zoo started construction on a new barn and yard for their giraffes.

The new facility opened on February 12, 2010.

In 2011, brought along the grand opening of a new river otter exhibit, complete with glass that enabled visitors to walk up to visitors and interact with the very sociable North American river otters in their naturalistic habitat.