Woodland Park and Zoo

Zoo South Gate Entrance:
N. 50th and Fremont Ave N.
Zoo Information: (206) 684-4800
Park Information: (206) 684-4075

Around 1902, a Boston architectural firm, the Olmsted Brothers (known best for designing Central Park in New York City) was hired to plan all of Seattle's parks including the newly acquired zoo.

Between 1903 and 1930, the collection of animals finally began to resemble a zoo. There were lions, camels, a brown bear, polar bears and a kodiak bear from Alaska. Also listed were sea lions, ostrich, bison and elk, various primates, leopards, red kangaroos and wallaroos, a waterfowl exhibit, and an elephant purchased by the Seattle P.I. and funds raised for the event.

Burro rides for 5 cents each were the first noted ride at zoo. Followed by the zoo's first pony ring, camel rides at ten cents a ride and a ferris wheel and carousel. The elephant named "Wide Awake" gave ten cent rides until she decided to take off down a public street on her own.

The Parks Department hired Gus Knudson in 1907, as an "animal keeper" for the zoo. Appearantly at 10 years of age, Knudson had run away from his Minnesota home to join the circus and later became a veterinarian. He became the zoo's first director in 1922. The zoo's monthly labor budget in 1926 was: Director $225.00, 4 keepers at $142.50, 2 apprentice keepers at $100.00, and 2 apprentice keepers at $80.00.

In 1923, President Warren G. Harding's last public speech was to a crowd in Woodland Park.

For more history, I recommend the park and it's web site. I believe most of the research was done for the 100th anniversary. There's a good calendar of events there, as well.

Woodland Park's gardens and zoo has 92 acres located southwest of Green Lake and north of the Fremont district. It is divided by Aurora Avenue. To the west of Aurora lies the Woodland Park Zoo, a play area for children, and the Woodland Park Rose Garden. The east side is mostly a picnic park with tennis courts, walkways, ballfields, and an off leash area for dogs.

In 1887, a wealthy lumber mill owner and real estate developer named Guy Phinney paid $10,000 for 342 acres. He kept 180 acres for himself (recognized now as Phinney Ridge) and spent $40,000 constructing an elegant English-style estate, which he named "Woodland Park." The park's main entrance was at N. 50th St. & Fremont Ave. N., as it is today, but this was no adverage home. Not only was there a conservatory, promenade, hunting lodge, the "Woodlands Hotel," but an animal collection, as well.

Phinney opened his estate to the public as long as they followed the rules: no foul language, no firearms and dogs would be "shot on sight". He insisted all living things here were to be protected from abuse.

He also had tracks of the newly developed streetcar lines installed down the hill into the town of Fremont. Phinney then hired a driver and used his personal streetcar to go back and forth to his office downtown. Guy Carleton Phinney passed away in 1893 at 41 years old. He left his estate unfinished.

By 1899, there was considerable public debate about acquiring the Phinney estate for $100,000. Many thought that the price was too high and the park was too far from town (the area around Green Lake was still virtually undeveloped). The Mayor even vetoed the purchase, but the City Council overturned the veto and the papers were signed on December 28, 1899.