Brandywine Zoo sits tucked into Brandywine Park along the banks of the Brandywine River in Wilmington, Delaware, on ground where George Washington is said to have mustered troops during the American Revolution. Opened in 1905 after Dr. James H. Morgan began assembling a small animal collection the year before, the zoo grew from humble beginnings—ducks, geese, Belgian hares, and a sea turtle—into an AZA-accredited facility recognized for its conservation work despite its compact footprint.
At just 4.7 acres, Brandywine Zoo proves that a small urban zoo can still pack a punch, housing around 90 animals across roughly 53 species. Visitors come for red pandas, Andean condors, a caracal, giant anteater, and lemurs, drawing about 100,000 guests a year to one of Delaware’s most accessible wildlife destinations.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Wilmington, Delaware
- Opened: 1905
- Size: About 4.7 acres
- Animal count: About 90 animals, roughly 53 species
- Annual visitors: About 100,000
- AZA accredited since: 1986
- Famous for: Red pandas and Andean condors in a compact riverside setting
A Small Zoo With Deep Roots
Brandywine Zoo traced its origins to 1904, when Dr. James H. Morgan started keeping a modest collection of birds and small animals in Brandywine Park. The zoo formally opened the following year and grew steadily over the next century, eventually coming under the management of the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation with support from the Delaware Zoological Society.
The park setting itself carried historical weight: the field above the zoo grounds was said to be where George Washington mustered troops during the Revolutionary War, giving the site significance well beyond its animal collection. A children’s zoo with Mother Goose-themed exhibits operated on the grounds from 1952 into the late 1970s, adding a whimsical chapter to the zoo’s history.
Animals and Conservation
Despite its small size, Brandywine Zoo first achieved AZA accreditation in 1986 and has been continuously accredited since, meeting standards for animal care, veterinary programs, and conservation that make it the only AZA-accredited facility in Delaware. Red pandas joined the collection in summer 2014, quickly becoming visitor favorites alongside the zoo’s caracal, giant anteater, and bald eagles—two of which arrived as rescued, non-releasable birds that same year.
The zoo’s year-round residents have also included lemurs, Andean condors, and a variety of birds and reptiles, making Brandywine Zoo a dense, walkable wildlife experience within one of Wilmington’s most historic parks.
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Brandywine Zoo FAQs
Where is Brandywine Zoo located?
The zoo is located at 1001 North Park Drive in Brandywine Park, along the Brandywine River in Wilmington, Delaware.
When did Brandywine Zoo open?
It opened in 1905, growing out of a small animal collection started by Dr. James H. Morgan in 1904.
What animals can visitors see at Brandywine Zoo?
Visitors can see red pandas, Andean condors, a caracal, a giant anteater, lemurs, bald eagles, and more across the zoo’s 4.7 acres.
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Photo: Tichnor Brothers, Publisher / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.