Racine Zoo, Lakeside zoo in Racine, United States
Racine Zoo is a zoo along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Racine, Wisconsin, home to over a hundred animal species spread across a park-like setting. A portion of the collection focuses on animals native to or naturally associated with Wisconsin.
The zoo was founded in 1923 by Jacob Stoffel Jr., starting with just three monkeys kept at Island Park. By 1925, it had moved to its current location in Lakeview Park, where it has remained ever since.
The zoo sits next to Lakeview Park along the Lake Michigan shoreline, so visitors can easily combine a trip to both places in one outing. Staff presentations give a concrete look at how animals are cared for day to day.
The zoo is on North Main Street and offers free parking right at the entrance, which makes arriving by car straightforward. Opening hours change by season, so it is worth checking before planning a visit.
Since 2019, the zoo has hosted an annual lantern festival where around 300 handcrafted lanterns are set up across the grounds after dark. One of the largest installations is a dragon sculpture that runs over 140 feet (about 43 meters) long.
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