Jackson Zoo

1916

The City of Jackson acquires 79 acres of land from Samuel Livingston for $36,000.
1919

The original Zoo consisted of rabbits, fireman's pets, squirrels, deer, raccoons, alligators and rabbits). This collection was housed in the Central Fire Station in downtown Jackson (now the Jackson Chamber of Commerce Building).
1921

The City Council voted to situate the Zoo on the land acquired from Samuel Livingston and became known as the Livingston Park Zoo. Some of the initial exhibits still stand today (i.e. the monkey castle and the Elephant House Cafe).

1930's

The Zoo survived the depression and built an education center.

1948

Jackson State College president, Dr. Jacob L. Reddix, helped expand the animal collection. New animals included chimpanzees, gray mangabey monkeys, a white-tailed colobus, an African loon, a lemur and two pythons.
1950's & 60's

The zoo was renamed The R.M. Taylor Zoo after the city commissioner who spearheaded some development of the giraffe exhibit and the large mammal moats (Asian Grottos).
1964

The zoo was renamed the Jackson Zoological Society and started moving towards current zoo trends by changing from a varied menagerie to an organized, scientific collection.
Discovery Zoo1970's

The children's petting zoo and animal hospital was built. The Friends of the Jackson Zoo were formed (1975).
1985

The African Rainforest exhibit was developed. 1989

The Zoo became AAZPA accredited (now known as the AZA). The children's petting zoo was renovated to become the Discovery Zoo.
Early 1990's

Original buildings were updated to include the conversion of the Elephant House into a café. The Zoo's animal collection increased through intra-zoo trading and through SSP breeding programs.
1995

State government approved legislation that provided $4 million for capital improvements.
1996

The Zoo became a member of a community organization called ZAPP (Zoo Area Progressive Partnership); a community organization that assist in the regeneration of the neighborhoods surrounding the zoo.

The mission of the Jackson Zoo is to provide visitors with a quality recreational and educational environment dedicated to wildlife care and conservation.

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