America’s First Zoo in Philadelphia

Posted by on Mar 17, 2023 in | Comments Off on America’s First Zoo in Philadelphia Chartered in 1859, the Philadelphia Zoological Garden was the first formally planned zoo in the United States. The Pennsylvania legislature and William Camac (1829–1900), a prominent Philadelphia doctor and civic leader, secured 32 acres of land in Fairmount Park along the western bank of the Schuylkill River with the intention of creating a world-class zoological park. The Civil War and its...
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No Featherweight in the Annals of Archery: The United Bowmen Of Philadelphia

Posted by on Nov 26, 2013 in | Comments Off on No Featherweight in the Annals of Archery: The United Bowmen Of Philadelphia The fraternal symbol­ism seems mysterious, even magical. A pavilion is outfitted with wings. In its center, a tall pole flies a flag bearing an insignia of a brass quiver stuffed with feathery arrows. The quiver is said to represent this little known club, and the arrows the fellowship and fraternity of its members. A belt – the ends of which form the bold letters U and B­ – which...
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Currents

Posted by on Nov 26, 2013 in | Comments Off on Currents It’s a Zoo! When the Zoological Society of Philadelphia was organized at the home of Dr. William Camac (its first presi­dent) on March 21, 1859, it was the first of its kind in North America. In spite of its auspicious beginnings, the early years of the Philadelphia Zoo – now touted as “America’s First Zoo”­ – were dampened by the Civil War, which not only...
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