Lincoln Park Zoo sits along Chicago’s lakefront in the neighborhood that shares its name, and it has welcomed visitors free of charge since it opened in 1868. That makes it one of the oldest zoos in the United States, predating most of the country’s major zoological parks and surviving more than a century and a half of Chicago’s growth around it.
Spread across roughly 35 acres of Lincoln Park, the zoo houses around 1,100 animals representing about 200 species, from African lions and gorillas to polar bears and Bali mynas. Unlike most major U.S. zoos, Lincoln Park Zoo charges no general admission, a policy that has helped it draw millions of visitors annually and remain one of Chicago’s most-visited attractions.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois
- Opened: 1868
- Size: About 35 acres
- Species/Animal Count: About 200 species, roughly 1,100 animals
- Annual Visitors: Over 3.5 million
- Admission: Free, year-round
- Famous For: One of the oldest and few free-admission zoos in the U.S.
A Free Zoo in the Heart of Chicago
Lincoln Park Zoo’s free-admission model sets it apart from nearly every other major zoo in the country. Visitors can walk in off the lakefront path any day of the year without buying a ticket, which has made the zoo a fixture of daily life for Chicagoans as well as a stop for tourists exploring the park and nearby Lincoln Park Conservatory.
The zoo is also accredited as both a zoo by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and, since 2019, as an arboretum, reflecting its landscaped grounds of mature trees alongside its animal exhibits.
Exhibits and Conservation Work
Key exhibits include the Regenstein African Journey, the Regenstein Center for African Apes, the Pepper Family Wildlife Center for big cats, and the Kovler Seal Pool, one of the zoo’s oldest structures dating to 1879. The Farm-in-the-Zoo and Nature Boardwalk round out the grounds with agricultural and native-habitat displays.
Beyond exhibits, Lincoln Park Zoo runs research and breeding programs for endangered species, including the critically endangered Bali myna, and its Urban Wildlife Institute studies animal life within cities.
Explore more: Explore more top zoos and aquariums.
Lincoln Park Zoo FAQs
Is Lincoln Park Zoo really free to visit?
Yes, general admission to Lincoln Park Zoo has always been free, though some individual attractions and special experiences carry a separate fee.
How old is Lincoln Park Zoo?
The zoo opened in 1868, making it one of the oldest zoos in the United States.
How many animals live at Lincoln Park Zoo?
The zoo houses roughly 1,100 animals representing about 200 species, including gorillas, lions, polar bears, and Bali mynas.
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Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.