History of the Zoo
Mr. Baynard provided the money for the fencing where "a number of varieties of ducks and geese" were kept, and for several years he made financial contributions to the zoo. He and several other prominent Wilmingtonians besides Dr. Morgan, also, donated animals. In 1921 Mr. Baynard donated two white deer, Mr. T. Coleman duPont donated eleven elk, and Senator L. Heisler Ball arranged for the donation of a buffalo from the Wichita National Forest.
In addition to these men, in 1905 the Washington Heights Association, a group of people who live near North Brandywine Park, changed its name to the Wilmington Free Zoological Association. For twenty years this group helped the Zoo. It wasn't until 1926 that it turned over its property and interest in the Zoo to the Wilmington Board of Park Commissioners.
Over the years exhibits have come and gone. In June 1954 a Children's Zoo was added. The Wilmington Lions Club sponsored and built eleven little buildings, each centering on a different Mother Goose character.
The first year there were 46,000 visitors,
and children continued to visit this attraction up until the late 1970's
when it was taken down. Also, in 1954 the Zoo had an area called "Bunnyland".
There were flagstone steps and a gravel path where people could see the
rabbits in their hutches.
Then in 1969 the
New Castle County Department of Parks and Recreation took over the responsibility
of the zoo. The Wilmington Zoo became known as the Brandywine Zoo. With
the help of the Delaware Zoological Society, which
was formed in 1979, the Zoo continued to grow - offering a variety of educational
and conservation programs.
Most recently, in
the spring of 1998, the reponsibility of the Zoo shifted again. At present
the Brandywine Zoo is owned and operated by Delaware State Parks in cooperation
with the Delaware Zoological Society. Together they are working to provide
all Delawareans an opportunity to enjoy and share the wonder of wildlife.
The pictures on this page were scanned from postcards from the postcard
collection at the Delaware Historical Society in Wilmington, Delaware.