Roger Williams Park Zoo
1000 Elmwood Avenue
Providence, RI 02907-3659
Tel: (401) 785-3510 Fax: (401) 941-3988
E-Mail: jmulvena@rwpzoo.org
While Providence committed itself to establishing a "zoological garden" within the city before the Civil War, it wasn't until the war ended in 1865 that the idea took final form. In 1871, plans were under way to make the recently-acquired Field's Point section into a new city park when Betsey Williams, a relative of Rhode Island's founder, Roger Williams, died. In her will, she left 103 acres of farm and swamp land to Providence for use as a park. The city accepted her bequest and opened Roger Williams Park, and its zoo, on June 9, 1872. Over the years, Providence greatly enlarged the park through donations of land from various sources.
In the 1890's, many zoo and park buildings were erected, including the Menagerie, Barn, Museum, Casino and Boathouse. Zoo exhibits were scattered over the park's 440 acres, presenting problems with feeding, maintenance, and security. In 1979, the zoo was consolidated on its present site and modernized, gaining it a reputation as a world-renowned wild animal park as well as a Rhode Island institution.