The St. Louis Zoo

St Louis Zoo North Entrance

St Louis Zoo North Entrance

If you’re looking to have a fun filled day in St. Louis, I can’t think of a better place to visit than the famous St. Louis Zoo.

Located at 1 Government Drive in Forest Park, the zoo encompasses approximately 90 acres and is home to over 5000 animals from about 700 different species.

It has quite an impressive history being established in 1904 by the city of St. Louis to help impress the legion of World Fair visitors soon to arrive. The State Legislation decided then that the St. Louis Zoo would always be free to the public and has since had countless millions of visitors. It should be noted that some of the attractions inside do require a small fee such as the Children’s zoo and the Zooline Railroad which visitors can ride on and tour around the entire park.

Locals and out of towners from all over the world visit the St. Louis Zoo daily to see the famous Bear Pits, Primate House and Reptile House. In addition the zoo shows off Big Cat country which is a large area with a 27 foot waterfall in the center surrounded by giant rock formations, trees and shrubs and some of the most beautiful cats from all over the world. You can expect to see lions, tigers, cheetahs, jaguars, leopards and pumas.

Big Cat Country

Big Cat Country

They also offer a sea lion show when they’re in season. The little ones will surely enjoy this. During the show, the sea lions get to show off their impressive abilities like hurdle jumping in the air, balancing acts and front flipper walking.

If you plan on visiting be sure to also check out the new and now famous Penguin Cove to see the under water display of the penguins swimming. This is an indoor display and they keep it very chilly to simulate their natural habitat so remember to bring a jacket.

Other animals you may see at the St. Louis Zoo would be giraffes, elephants, zebras, kangaroos, river otters, hyenas, fox, mongoose, etc.

In addition they have a world class butterfly house and insect house.

There are plenty of nice little shops for souvenirs and lots of restaurants for the family to eat lunch or dinner.

St. Louis Zoo Structure

St. Louis Zoo Structure

Just know ahead of time that you may not be able to see all the attractions offered at the zoo in one day. It may take two visits.

Whether you live in St. Louis or you’re just in town visiting, the famous St. Louis Zoo will always be an unforgettable experience.

The park is open daily from 9:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m.

For more information please visit the St. Louis Zoo website at:

St. Louis Zoo