|
Year
|
Event |
| Mid-1880s |
 Born out of his love for animals, Richard Knight a former seaman turned pharmacist, began collecting animals from his seafaring friends. Knight kept his collection in the back of his drug store on Third & Morrison streets. |
| 1887 |
In 1887, Knight, officially presented his collection to the city. The collection was moved to City Park (present water reservoir site at Washington Park) and Portland's first zoo was created. Park keeper, Charles Meyers, constructed the first sunken, barless cage in the world to house Grizzly and Alaskan bears. |
| 1894 |
The zoo collection grew to 300 specimens mostly from North America. |
| 1905 |
The zoo began a period of decline which continued until after World War II; a move to a higher, more remote part of Washington Park intensified the lack of interest. |
| 1947 |
Jack Marks became the zoo director and greater attention and effort began to be given to the zoo facilities and animals. |
| 1951 |
Portland City Club recommended a new zoo and the city council accepted the recommendation to place a $3,850,000 bond issue on the ballot to finance a new zoo on the 40-acre site of the West Hills Golf Course in Washington Park. |
| 1953 |
 Arrival of Rosy, Portlands first Asian elephant. |
| 1954 |
Ballot measure to finance new zoo passed after failing the first time.
|
| 1959 |
 New zoo opened, renamed Portland Zoological Garden. However, only 60 percent of the original Master Plan was completed due to increased construction costs, delays due to weather, etc.
The zoo railway was included in the original tax levy, but was completed with the assistance of donations of time, money and materials, making the four-mile round trip excursion one of the best zoo railway excursions in the country. |
| 1957, 1958 and 1962 |
Zoo Director Jack Marks led penguin expeditions to Antarctica and the penguin collection was started. |
| 1962 |
 Birth of Packy, the first elephant born in this country in 44 years. Packy and his mother Belle were purchased from Morgan Berry, who had been wintering his Asian elephants at the zoo. Attendance exceeded 1 million. |
| 1971 |
 Portland Zoological Society assumed full management, though the zoo continued to be funded by the city of Portland.
Because the burden became too great for either agency, the legislature passed laws which placed the zoo under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Service District, a special district government.
|
| 1975 |
Philip Ogilvie, Ph.D., resigned. Warren Iliff, formerly with the National Zoo, was selected director. |
| 1976 |
Voters approved a five-year, $10 million levy for operating and capital expenses.
The zoo was renamed Washington Park Zoo, following a contest.
|
| 1980 |
Voters approved a three-year $15 million serial levy.
Remodel of the Asian elephant exhibit provided larger outdoor area and the state-of-the-art elephant handling facilities.
Remodel of the primate house.
|
| 1982 |
Completion of a major new exhibit with funds privately donated to the zoo, Cascade Streams and Pond Exhibit, which won the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums top exhibit award for exhibits completed in 1982. |
| 1983 |
Completely remodeled Penguinarium opened. |
| 1985 |
Warren Iliff left to become director of the Phoenix Zoo. Gene Leo, formerly of Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, became the director.
Completed Alaska Tundra, another new major exhibit.
|
| 1986 |
Completed a major renovation of the west bear grottos and opened the polar bear and sun bear exhibits; renovations included remodeled facilities at Bear Walk Cafe.
Opened elephant museum, built with private funds.
|
| 1987 |
Director Gene Leo resigned to become director of the Portland Rose Festival. |
| 1988 |
Y. Sherry Sheng, former director of the Seattle Aquarium, became director.
Opening of Africa Aviary and AfriCafe; new terraced concert lawn constructed.
Began first ZooLights Festival as the zoo strengthened its efforts to increase enterprise revenues.
Annual attendance exceeded one million for the second time in zoo history.
|
| 1989 |
Africa exhibit opened. |
| 1990 |
Voters approved a $5.1 million permanent tax base for zoo operating support.
Zoo began the development of a new long-range plan.
|
| 1991 |
Africa Rain Forest opened. Record attendance of 1.16 million.
Began ZooBoo, a two-week Halloween event.
|
| 1993 |
Elk Meadow exhibit opened. |
| 1996 |
Voters approved a bond measure for construction of the Great Northwest Exhibit and a new entry village. |
| 1997 |
Y. Sherry Sheng resigns to pursue other interests. |
| 1998 |
Tony J. Vecchio, director of the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, R.I. becomes director . |
|
1998
|
The zoo officially becomes the Oregon Zoo, to better reflect its location, and its emphasis on native wildlife. A new entrance and the first phase of the Great Northwest Exhibit, Cascade Crest, opens to the public. |
| 1999 |
Lorikeet Landing and Amur Leopard exhibits open. |
| 2000 |
Steller Cove, marine life habitat exhibit opens. |
| 2001 |
Amazon Flooded Forest exhibit opens.
Zoo was accepted as a member of the US Fish & Wildlife Service California Condor Recovery Program
|
