'America's First Zoo'  The Philadelphia Zoo is located on the west bank of the Schuylkill River and is part of the Fairmount Park section in Philadelphia. The Zoo is one of the premier zoos in the world for breeding animals that have been found difficult to breed in captivity. History of Philadelphia Zoo The Philadelphia Zoo, the nation's oldest zoo, was chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on March 21, 1859, but the Civil War delayed its opening until July 1, 1874. The Frank Furness … [Read more...]