The Houston Zoo will celebrate its 100th anniversary on Saturday.
Today's family-friendly 55 acres in Hermann Park began on a small bit of land with just a few animals, among them a bison named Earl and Galapagos tortoises on loan from The Bronx Zoo to see if Houston's warmer climate would help them breed more successfully. Today, the zoo is home to some 6,000 critters.
The opening ceremony with Zoo CEO Lee Ehmke and Mayor Sylvester Turner will be held at the reflection pool, which has been part of the zoo from its earliest days.
Each half hour, zookeepers will host animal chats throughout the facility, offering visitors opportunities to meet a sea lion, giraffe, alligator, chimp, orangutan and tortoise.
Children will have chances to make birdhouses to take home, and everyone will get a zoo-themed cookie. Plus, families can pose for pictures with various animals and take part in a zoo history scavenger hunt for prizes.
Houston ice sculptor Reverend Butter will also be on hand for live demonstrations using chain saws, angle grinders and chisels.
And visitors will get a preview of the zoo’s Galapagos Islands exhibit, set to open in early 2023 with a large aquarium, the zoo’s sea lions, Galapagos tortoises, and Humboldt penguins.
The birthday bash runs 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and advance online reservations are required.