Bronx Zoo Kicks Off 125th Birthday Celebration with New Exhibit, Season-Long Special Events

The Bronx Zoo's new Animal Chronicles walking trail brings a bit of art and history to one of the city's wildest attractions.
The Bronx Zoo's new Animal Chronicles walking trail brings a bit of art and history to one of the city's wildest attractions.
4/23/24 - By Jody Mercier

The Bronx Zoo is celebrating a big birthday in 2024—it turns 125 years old—and it's planned a whole season of celebrations. Festivities kicked off last weekend with the debut of Animal Chronicles, a brand-new eco trail exhibit.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox.

Animal Chronicles at the Bronx Zoo: White naped crane display
Animal Chronicles provides an interactive timeline of Bronx Zoo history.

Animal Chronicles at the Bronx Zoo

Zoogoers who visited the seasonal Pumpkin Nights at the Bronx Zoo are familiar with the 1/4-mile-long walking trail situated near the Fordham Road gate at the Bronx Zoo. It's now been transformed into an interactive historical timeline of the organization's history.

The Bronx Zoo's talented exhibit designers have used their skills to reimagine the trail as an artistic, 13-scene walk-through highlighting important species and conservation moments at the institution. Using eco materials like rocks, moss, and twigs, the team crafted 68 individual animal sculptures representing species like the white-naped crane, bison, beaver, and snow leopard. Accompanying signage explains each moment or species' significance.

Many of the scenes include an interactive photo-op, and a walk along the trail is included in general admission prices. Animal Chronicles is here for a limited-time only—it closes Sunday, August 4. 

RELATEDBronx Zoo's New Budgie Landing Lets You Interact with the Birds

Animal Chronicles at the Bronx Zoo: 125th anniversary signage
A summer of celebrations is set to mark the Bronx Zoo's big anniversary. 

More 125th Anniversary Fun at the Bronx Zoo

The Bronx Zoo's birthday party is running all summer long with rolling celebrations to mark the occasion. Each month commemorates a different animal or theme, like birds, big cats, Congo Gorilla Forest, Asia, and Africa.

There are special events each weekend, including parades, Wildlife Theater performances, and craft projects. Special signage throughout the park makes for some fun, celebratory photo-ops and there are some informative, illustrated historical timelines to help guests get to know the zoo and its famous residents even better.

Of course, there are so many fun things to see and do at the Bronx Zoo, that we rarely need an excuse to visit.

All photos by author

Places featured in this article: