Kansas City Zoo

One of our favorite family outings has always been to go to a zoo. When we moved to Missouri, we found the Kansas City Zoo on a school field trip. Back in those days it was much smaller and less modern than it is today. We have greatly enjoyed watching it grow and improve over the past decade and a half.

These days we often take the opportunity to reminisce about the first time we visited the zoo. The Valley is currently closed for improvements, but it hasn't yet been completely disassembled. In fact, some of the first pictures we ever took at the zoo were in The Valley. Back when the girls were little - Alli was in first grade - The Valley was open and most, but not all, of the cages contained animals.

This cage, however, was not only empty but accessible. They had me get in and took a picture of me through the bars. Momma on display at the zoo. ;) Of course, that was long before we had digital cameras, cell phones...not even sure if we had internet service in our area yet! 
I'm glad the old classic zoo is not totally obliterated by the current zoo. Many of the original buildings are still around, if renovated, and have pictures of their original days. Some are still awaiting renovation.

The original primate house still stands, though now empty. The primates have been moved to larger dwellings for many years now. This building is not one of the very oldest, but it still holds historic significance and I hope they find a way to repurpose it eventually rather than destroy it.
Looking down the old alley in The Valley, the enclosures are still visible, the railing newer than the walls. It's a quaint old area waiting to be reclaimed by the zoo.

I could suggest a historic walk down memory lane. They could certainly renovate these enclosures and make them suitable for the right kinds of animals. I would like to see a few displays of old pictures and walk-through areas where today's visitors can experience something like what the zoo was like before and how it has evolved.

Wouldn't it be fun to walk into an old cage and see pictures of its former inhabitants, historic events from the zoo's history and Kansas City's pathway to today's Zoo? Maybe a hands-on training about why and how the zoo has changed over the past century and what it meant to be a zoologist then and what it takes now.
We nearly lost the KC Zoo a few years ago due to lack of funds. Now it's busier than ever and thriving. If you happen to find yourself in Kansas City, Missouri, on a nice day, take a drive over to Swope Park and take a look.