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Zoo History
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 Park begins acquiring zoological specimens on exhibit. 1901 Animal collection exceeds 200 animals including mammals, birds and reptiles. 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. 1948 Mother Goose Barnyard opens with pigs, ducks and turkeys. 1954 New stone dwelling area for sea lions opens. 1969 Construction of Mammal House begins - housing African Elephants, Rhinoceros and Tapir. 1974 Animal area is fenced off from the city park and named Lafayette Zoological Park. 1974-1980s Older exhibits at this time are removed and renovated for general Zoo improvements. 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. 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). 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 Master Plan is adopted by City of Norfolk and Virginia Zoological Society. Plan includes zoogeographic vision of five continent expansion as well as erection of new Education Complex and Visitor Center. Plan includes exhibits of Africa and Asia. 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. 1993 Fundraising begins for the capital campaign for Master Plan Phase I: African plains exhibit and Education Complex and Visitor Center. 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. 1999 Early Africa exhibits, including African Village, open during the 100th anniversary of Virginia Zoo and Lafayette Park. Entry Complex also opens, housing ticket plaza, gift shop, membership office, education classroom and staff offices. 2002 African Okavango Delta exhibit opens. 2004 Prairie dog habitat opens. 2007 New exhibits open including love birds and red panda. Lion cubs born on exhibit in Africa, marking first large carnivore birth at the Zoo in 35 years. 2008 Groundbreaking for “Asia-Trail of Tiger” expansion, and construction is underway. 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 2010
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