A Rich History Since 1901

Lafayette Park began its acquisition of animals in 1900, but did not officially become the Lafayette Zoological Park until 1901 when deemed a city park by the City of Norfolk.

Today, the Virginia Zoo spans 53 acres adjacent to Lafayette Park and is bordered by the Lafayette River. Zoo residents from around the world include over 700 animals representing more than 150 different species. In 1985, the park became the Virginia Zoological Park and is now called the Virginia Zoo. The Zoo was first accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) in 1987 and continues to adhere to the high standards set by AZA. Here is a timeline of some of the significant milestones of the Virginia Zoo’s journey to become a world-class zoological institution:

1892

  • City of Norfolk purchases 65 acres of land that is currently occupied by Lafayette Park and the Virginia Zoo.

1899

  • City officially designates the city’s park as Lafayette Park.

1900

  • Lafayette Park began to bring in mammals, birds, and reptiles to exhibit.

1901

  • Over 200 individual animals were housed in the park.

1910

  • Animals including monkeys, ducks, sea lions and a bear are housed in outdoor exhibits separated by paved roads – which allows visitors to drive through the park.

1923

  • Animal keeper and superintendent of parks are sent to Baltimore Zoo to inspect zoo living quarters in order to see how to modernize and improve the Zoo at Lafayette Park
  • $5,000 ($492,000 in 2025) was allotted for improving animal living spaces with open runways to allow animals air and exercise
  • 3 lions, a 760 year old tortoise, 2 porcupines, 4 ostriches, 2 bears, an eagle, and 19 alligators are donated to the Zoo

1930

  • The Bureau of Parks reports that attendance at Zoo was the highest ever

1931

  • An ox, lion, bear, 2 baboons, 2 wolves, and 2 Ceylon monkeys are donated to the Zoo

1948

  • Mother Goose Barnyard opens with pigs, ducks, and turkeys.

1955

  • New stone dwelling area and pool for sea lions opens.

1969

  • Construction of Mammal House begins to house African elephants, rhinoceros, and tapir.

1972

  • The Zoo establishes an official logo
  • Memberships become an additional fee with a portion contributing to conservation

1974

  • Animal area is fenced off from the city park and named Lafayette Zoological Park.

1979

  • The Friends of the Zoo is established as a non-stock corporation for the purposes of acting as an advisory supportive society in the development of Lafayette Zoological Park.

1981

  • The Zoo becomes the largest in Virginia

1983

  • Zoo veterinarian, Dr. Tookie Myers becomes prominent in articles regarding care of animals

1985

  • Lafayette Zoological Park is renamed the Virginia Zoological Park at Norfolk (commonly, Virginia Zoo).

1987

  • Virginia Zoological Park achieves accreditation by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA).
  • ODU Frat Sigma Nu build pool for blind harbor seal

1989

  • Friends of the Zoo officially changes their name to Virginia Zoological Society and operates as the non-profit official support organization for the Virginia Zoological Park with the responsibility of generating community and financial support.

1992

  • Two Siberian tiger cubs are temporarily housed at the Zoo after being recovered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service from an illegal trader.
  • Eggleston Center teams with the Zoo for a clean up project

1995

  • Community – including Hampton Roads’ Exxon dealers – connects with the tiger cubs and responds by raising enough money for the first major new exhibit since 1969.
  • The Zoo wins Regional Recognition for Disabled Efforts

1999

  • Early Africa exhibits, including African Village, open during the 100th anniversary of Virginia Zoo and Lafayette Park.

2002

  • Africa – Okavango Delta (now African Safari Trail) exhibit opens, featuring large habitats with free-roaming animals including zebras, giraffes, lions, elephants, rhinos, meerkats and several smaller mammals, birds and reptiles.
  • The Zoo’s entry plaza opens, housing ticket booths, the Gift Shop, Membership Office, education classroom and staff offices.

2004

  • Prairie dog habitat opens.

2007

  • New exhibits open including love birds and red panda.
  • Lion cubs born on exhibit on African Safari Trail, marking first large carnivore birth at the Zoo in 35 years.

2008

  • Zoo Train, The Norfolk Southern Express, opens.
  • AZA accreditation is renewed and lion exhibit was acclaimed as “one of the best in the country.”

2009

  • Kangaroo exhibit — funded through train ticket sales — opens.

2010

  • Life-sized African elephant sculpture is installed in entry plaza as part of City of Norfolk’s Public Arts Program.

2011

  • Asia: Trail of the Tiger exhibit opens, nearly doubling the number of large animals at the Zoo. Among new residents are Malayan tigers, siamangs, Malayan tapirs, binturongs, and a colorful collection of birds. A raised boardwalk allows unobstructed views of many animals.

2014

  • The new state-of-the-art Veterinary Hospital and Diet Kitchen open for animal residents.

2016

  • The Zoo celebrates its 115 year anniversary.
  • The Animal Wellness Campus and Zoo Live! Stage opens.
  • The ZooFarm gets a facelift and reopens with new residents.
  • Two critically endangered male Malayan tiger cubs are born and hand-reared by vet staff.

2017

  • Two genetically important female Southern white rhinos arrive at the Zoo from Singapore.

2018

  • The World of Reptiles and Friends opens as the Zoo also unveils the longest snake on the east coast, a 67-foot-long- Rhinoceros viper sculpture named Snavely by the Goode Family.
  • Judy the giraffe sculpture gets a flowery facelift from artist Kimberly Ann Jones and now permanently towers over visitors at the Zoo’s entrance.

2019

  • Run Wild! Nature Discovery Zone, a one-acre natural playground opens. Features include a bamboo maze, stump jump, willow tunnel, dig boxes, balance beams and a Conservation Cabin.

2020

  • Trey the sloth is the first two-toed sloth born in the Zoo’s history.
  • Baby Malayan tapir named Luther is born
  • In March, the Zoo is forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, remaining closed until July.
  • The Zoo launches an Emergency Operations Fund to help aid the financial impact caused by the closure.

2021

  • The first Southern white rhino, Mosi, was born at the Virginia Zoo to mom, Zina, and dad, Sibindi. Mosi serves as an important ambassador for his species in the wild and helps educate the public on conservation of Southern white rhinos.

2022

  • African lions, Ansel, Asha, and Kali made their appearance at the Zoo.
  • The new female Malayan tiger, Cahaya arrives.

2023

  • Henry the Masai giraffe and Letti, the second born Southern white rhino calf at the Zoo are born on the African Safari Trail
  • Asia: Trail of the Tiger boardwalk renovation is completed.
  • A new electric train, The Virginia Zoo Express, arrived that the Zoo.
  • The Zoo partners with Great Ape Heart Project on orangutan research

2024

  • Poppy becomes the second born critically endangered Bornean orangutan at Virginia Zoo
  • Ground breaks on the new Macon and Joan Brock EdVenture & Exploration Campus
  • New maps unveil on Zoo grounds
  • The Zoo’s Norfolk mermaid statue receives a makeover
  • A new American bison exhibit opens in Flora Point section of the Zoo

2025

  • First ever Asian small-clawed otter pups are born at the Zoo
  • AZA accreditation is renewed and new Executive Director joins the Zoo

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