Lincoln Park Zoo opened in 1868 with a gift of two swans from Central Park. That's it. Two swans. And Chicago said, "This is a zoo now."
It's been free since day one. In 1868, Chicago decided that everyone — rich, poor, immigrant, native — should be able to see exotic animals without paying a dime. That philosophy hasn't changed in over 150 years.
The director from 1944 to 1962 was Marlin Perkins, who went on to host Wild Kingdom. Some of this zoo was built on cemetery land. Workers have occasionally found bones during construction.
— From the tour: The Best Free Day in Chicago
