Lincoln Park Zoo, Zoological park in Chicago, Illinois, United States
Lincoln Park Zoo is a zoological park on the north side of Chicago, set within the larger Lincoln Park along Lake Michigan. The grounds contain naturalistic enclosures for big cats, primates, polar bears, and many other animals, all connected by paved paths.
The zoo was founded in 1868 when the city received a pair of swans as a gift from New York's Central Park and placed them in the parkland. Over the following decades, the collection grew and the grounds took on the shape they largely retain today.
The Nature Boardwalk, a wooden path around the southern pond, draws locals who come simply to walk or watch waterbirds. The area feels more like a neighborhood park than a zoo, and many visitors treat it as part of their daily routine.
The main entrance is on North Cannon Drive, and entry is free every day of the year. Paths are flat and easy to follow, making the grounds accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.
The Pepper Family Wildlife Center occupies a building from the late 1800s that was originally constructed as a lion house. The renovation kept the original stone vaulting and added large glass panels, so visitors can watch the big cats move around from very close.
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