The Saint Louis Zoo has educated, entertained and earned a place in the hearts of St. Louisans for generations. With the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904, there began a long and slow process to establish a zoological park. Sure enough, local pride in the giant elliptical bird cage led to formation of a St. Louis Zoological Society in 1910. The City of St. Louis set aside 77 acres in Forest Park for a zoo and named a Zoological Board of Control in 1913. State legislation provided that "the zoo shall be forever free," which has kept the Zoo accessible to millions of visitors ever since.

  The mission of the St. Louis Zoo is to conserve animals and their habitats through animal management, research, recreation, and educational programs that encourage the support and enrich the experience of the public.

The Zoo is open every day, except December 25 (Christmas Day) and January 1 (New Year's Day), from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Holiday Hours and Early Closings:

    * November 22, 2007 (Thanksgiving Day) -- Open 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

    * December 24, 2007 (Christmas Eve) -- Open 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

    * December 25, 2007 (Christmas Day) -- Zoo closed

    * December 31, 2007 (New Year's Eve) -- Open 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

    * January 1, 2008 (New Year's Day) -- Zoo closed

Source: St. Louis Zoo. http://www.stlzoo.org