150 Years & Counting: Walking through History at the Maryland Zoo (with Special Book Signing!)

Join us to celebrate the Maryland Zoo’s 150th birthday with a new walking tour around its historic grounds led by Zoo staff. Discover the history of the zoo and several of its important landmarks, including iron-barred cages and other structures built when the Rogers Mansion was still a private residence. As we walk, we’ll hear about the zoo’s first elephant, Mary Ann, and we might even glimpse some penguins. We hope you’ll join us to experience a walk through the past, which will showcase how far zoological organizations have come from menageries of exotic creatures to expert conservation centers for endangered species! This is a special event–following the tour, author and Zoo employee, Ian Shelley, will be available to sign his new book, This is Your Zoo. The non-fiction book details the institution’s colorful history – from a rag-tag start as a menagerie of abandoned animals into a world-leading animal care and conservation institution. His book will be available for purchase as well. (The tour will be for one hour, followed by the book signing). (This tour does not include zoo admission. If you wish to explore the zoo after our tour, please purchase a ticket through the zoo’s website).