1906
The Memphis Park Commission allocates $1,200 to establish the Memphis Zoo on April 4. Spearheaded by Col. Galloway, $3,628 is used to build 23 simple cages and a row of concrete bear dens in August.
1907
The first building at the Zoo is built and named Galloway Hall.
1909
The Carnivora Building is built to house big cats.
1910
The Memphis Zoo Association is incorporated into the Memphis Zoological Society.
1910
The Elephant House is built. It is now the Education Building, including the library.
1916
The building that is now home to the Zoo’s bird collection was originally built for botanical displays. In 1959, this building becomes the Tropical Bird House.
1923
The Round Barn is moved to the Memphis Zoo. The original structure served as the Memphis Police Department’s horse barn in downtown Memphis.
1936
Monkey Island is constructed. Two lion statues (now at the entrance of the Rides area) are donated to the Zoo.
1959
The Aquarium opens. This building is renovated and reopened twenty years later in 1979.
1960
The Herpetarium is built, along with the Pachyderm House.
1990
Avenue of the Animals becomes the main entrance into the Zoo, along with a parking lot and plaza area.
1993
Lions, tigers and other felines are moved to their new home in Cat Country in April. The administration buildings and education complex also completed.
1994
In November, the former Carnivora Building is renovated and opened as the Cat House Cafe´.
1995
The Zoo has a big year with the opening of Animals of the Night, Once Upon A Farm, Primate Canyon and Madagascar (lemurs).
1996
The Primate Picnic Pavilion, along with the new parking entrance, is constructed in the summer to accommodate large gatherings at the Zoo.
1997
A new Nutrition Center and maintenance complex are added to the Zoo early in the year.
1998
In July, the Dragon’s Lair, featuring Komodo dragons, opens.
1998
In December, the Zoo opens the doors of the new animal hospital. This has separate holding and quarantine wings built on opposite ends of the building. Also, the sick wing separates sick or injured animals from others and allows for proper recovery time.
2000
The Memphis Zoo’s address is changed from Galloway Avenue to Prentiss Place in honor of long-time supporters and donors of the Zoo, Jim and Carol Prentiss.
2002
CHINA opens in July and features 15 animal species native to China. Memphis Zoo launches a broad conservation and research program budgeted at $1.5 million annually with an emphasis on Giant Panda conservation.
2003
Chuck Brady succeeds Roger Knox as Zoo president. A pair of giant pandas, Ya Ya and Le Le, arrives from China and goes on display in the CHINA exhibit on April 25.
2004
The Animal Nursery opens and welcomes its first inhabitants – a baby orangutan and a black- footed penguin. Construction begins on Northwest Passage – a $23 million, three-acre exhibit built to incorporate the animals and Native American culture of the Pacific Northwest.
2006
Northwest Passage opens and houses polar bears, black bears, sea lions and bald eagles. The same year the Zoo celebrates its 100th birthday and surpasses 1 million visitors in a calendar year.
2009
Birds and Bees exhibit opens Memorial Day weekend. This seasonal exhibit features the opportunity to hand-feed hundreds of parakeets, educates visitors on the importance of honey bees, and is open until September 1.
2009
Teton Trek opens October 9. The exhibit is a $16 million, four-acre tribute to Yellowstone National Park that features grizzly bears, gray wolves, elk, sandhill cranes and trumpeter swans