PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The Philadelphia Zoo is celebrating 150 years since it first opened its gates on July 1, 1874. And the zoo has a day of festivities planned for Monday for the big anniversary.
In the morning the guests were welcomed by a brass band, which also happened on the day the building was opened a century and a half ago.
“We are recreating that moment,” said Dani Hogan, director of mission integration at Philadelphia Zoo. “Since then, we have welcomed more than 150 million guests, and we are ready to welcome thousands more today and in the future.”
To mark the day, the first 150 guests received a commemorative pin.
During the day, zoo visitors can enjoy a Wawa Welcome America pep rally at 1 p.m. and $1.50 hot dogs throughout the day.
Hogan says she’s proud of the zoo’s never-changing legacy as the years go by.
“We are 100% committed to the well-being of our animals and saving wildlife. We also teach everyone who visits the zoo what they can do to make the world a better place.”
The Philadelphia Zoo is home to more than 1,700 species of rare and endangered animals. They were the first zoo in the US to open an on-site animal care center, and also the first to develop food formulas for zoo animals.
If you would like to attend the festivities, the zoo has free admission from 3pm until closing time at 5pm
CBS News Philadelphia intern Moira Vaughan contributed to this report.
