The Zoo Lady: How Belle Benchley Saved the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park

Friday, March 19 10:00 a.m. Speaker: Sandra E. Bonura, PhD, Author and Historian MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater Join us at The San Diego Museum of Art for a fully illustrated, interactive presentation with award-winning biographer and historian Sandra E. Bonura, PhD, author of The Zoo Lady: How Belle Benchley Built the San Diego Zoo. When the Fine Arts Gallery (now The San Diego Museum of Art) opened its doors in 1926, Belle Benchley was stepping up to run the neighboring San Diego Zoo. Over the next three decades, as SDMA cultivated the city’s artistic soul, Belle transformed the living world next door into a landmark of its own. In 1925, a middle-aged, divorced mother with zero animal training took a temporary bookkeeping job at a struggling local zoo. Through sheer grit, administrative genius, and media-savvy marketing, Benchley didn’t just keep Balboa Park vibrant; she revolutionized animal welfare and built a global conservation powerhouse in our own backyard. Through a rich multimedia showcase featuring rare archival movie clips, historic radio broadcasts, and 1920s photography, Dr. Bonura brings Benchley’s world vividly to life. Please note, this lecture is in-person only and held at the MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater in Balboa Park. $15 members and students | $20 seniors and military | $30 nonmembers Get Tickets This lecture is presented as a part of the Guest Lecture Series, which offers a platform for renowned scholars and experts from the art world to share their insights and knowledge on topics related to art history, art theory, and the museum’s collections. Sponsored by The San Diego Museum of Art Docent Council. Featured at top right: Detail of The Zoo Lady: How Belle Benchley Saved the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park book cover. Artwork by Wagner Humphreys.