The Montgomery Zoo is a 40-acre, city-run zoo on the north side of Montgomery, Alabama, with animals from five continents and the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum on the same grounds.
The Montgomery Zoo at a glance
According to Wikipedia’s entry on the zoo, the Montgomery Zoo covers 40 acres on the north side of the city, is an independent city department and is supported in part by the Montgomery Area Zoological Society.
The Encyclopedia of Alabama describes the layout as animals from five continents in largely barrier-free habitats. In its entry (last updated January 2024) it puts annual attendance between 230,000 and 250,000 and says the zoo earns approximately 40 percent of its operating budget, with the city and the zoological society covering the rest.
This guide is independent and not affiliated with the zoo. It leaves out admission prices and opening hours on purpose, because those change; the zoo’s own website is the place to confirm them before a visit.
From Oak Park to the present site
The zoo’s story starts well before its current location. The Encyclopedia of Alabama says the zoo was established in 1935 as the Oak Park Zoo, when the federal Works Progress Administration built facilities for exotic animals in Oak Park, which had been a social and recreational center for the city since the 1880s. The original collection included monkeys, bears, alligators, deer and a pair of lions.
The zoo’s closure is part of the city’s civil rights history. Like all public facilities in Montgomery, the zoo was strictly segregated. In September 1958 a group of African Americans filed a lawsuit to desegregate the public parks, and the federal court ruled the following year that the segregated facilities were unconstitutional. The city responded by closing all public parks and swimming pools rather than integrate them, and Oak Park Zoo closed on December 31, 1959. Visitors interested in that wider story can follow it through the civil rights sites in Montgomery.
A public zoo returned later. In 1967 the city council approved a 34-acre park in north Montgomery with a petting zoo, and the Montgomery Children’s Zoo was completed in the spring of 1971. By the next year it had been renamed the Montgomery Zoo and held about 84 species on six acres.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1935 | WPA-built facilities open in Oak Park as the Oak Park Zoo |
| 1959 | Oak Park Zoo closes on December 31 after the parks desegregation ruling |
| 1971 | Montgomery Children’s Zoo completed in north Montgomery |
| 1988 | Association of Zoos and Aquariums accreditation |
| 1991 | New 40-acre zoo opens in September |
| 2003 | Mann Wildlife Learning Museum opens |
Source: Encyclopedia of Alabama, “Montgomery Zoo”. The museum’s January 2003 opening is confirmed by Wikipedia.
The rebuild that created today’s zoo
A 1984 master plan called for growing the zoo to 40 acres with a geography-based theme. In 1989 the city and the Zoological Society agreed on a public-private partnership to raise $10 million, with the city passing a $5 million bond and the society pledging $5 million. Construction began in October 1990, and the new zoo opened to the public in September 1991.
Wikipedia’s account of the zoo says the expansion was organized into five continental realms: Africa, Australia, Asia, North America and South America. It describes the African realm as the largest exhibit complex, with elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs and chimpanzees, and the Asian realm as built around a hoofstock yard with tigers and Indian rhinoceros.
Specific animals mentioned in that account include a Bengal tiger pair and Indian rhinoceros in the Asian realm, with Wikipedia recording the first Indian rhinoceros born by artificial insemination there on June 5, 2013. In the African realm, giraffes can be seen up close and fed from the Overlook Cafe, and the Old World Aviary is visible from the same spot. The South American section is described as the oldest part of the existing zoo, using what remains of the original petting zoo at this site, and it includes a flight cage designed to resemble the 1904 World’s Fair aviary.
The zoo has kept adding to the park since 1991. Wikipedia’s history lists a giraffe feeding station in 2010 and the Zoofari Skylift ride in August 2012, and records that in 2013 the zoo did not renew its Association of Zoos and Aquariums membership, choosing accreditation by the Zoological Association of America instead.
The Mann Wildlife Learning Museum
The Mann Wildlife Learning Museum sits on zoo property. The Encyclopedia of Alabama describes it as a 27,000-square-foot museum with exhibits on wildlife and natural history, and Wikipedia says it opened in January 2003 and serves as the zoo’s administration building. Wikipedia describes the displays as taxidermy with a focus on native wildlife, game species and wildlife management. Because it is a different kind of experience from the living habitats outside, it is worth planning separate time for it.
Planning a visit
The zoo sits on the city’s north side rather than downtown, so plan on a drive or rideshare from the center. Check the official site for current hours, admission, any closures to exhibits and special events, since the zoo is a working animal facility whose schedule and exhibits change.
For a wider itinerary, the things to do in Montgomery, Alabama guide covers other attractions, and where to stay in downtown Montgomery helps with lodging. Travelers in town for a defense or cyber event can find background in the AFITC conference guide, which is independent of the organizers.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Montgomery Zoo?
The zoo covers 40 acres, according to the Encyclopedia of Alabama, which says the new 40-acre zoo opened in September 1991.
What animals can I see at the zoo?
The zoo is laid out in continental realms. Wikipedia’s description names elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs and chimpanzees in the African realm and Bengal tigers and Indian rhinoceros in the Asian realm. Collections change, so check the zoo’s site for current exhibits.
Is the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum part of the zoo?
Yes. It is on zoo property and, per Wikipedia, opened in January 2003 and serves as the administration building.
Who runs the Montgomery Zoo?
It is a city department. The Encyclopedia of Alabama says the city elevated the zoo to department status in 1991, and the zoological society helps with operating and capital needs.
Where can I find ticket prices and hours?
On the zoo’s official website. This guide does not list them because they change.
Photo credits: kangotraveler (CC BY 2.0); kangotraveler (CC BY 2.0).
