Tour the zoos and aquarium that came to be featured favorites in New York tourism and recreation.
Situated within the five boroughs of New York City are five zoos and one aquarium. New York City Zoos and Aquarium chronicles the establishment of the Central Park Zoo, the Bronx Zoo, the Prospect Park Zoo, the Queens Zoo, the Staten Island Zoo, and the New York Aquarium. Popular children's zoos are also featured. The city's first zoo opened in Central Park in the 1850s, while the newest zoo opened in Queens after the 1964 World's Fair. While each one of these facilities has many similarities, they all have their own unique attributes. All of the facilities are focused on education, conservation, and the care of the animals that now reside in natural habitats.
New York City native Joan Scheier, author of Central Park Zoo, visited all the zoos as a child and led many tours while she served as a city public school librarian for more than 25 years. She is now a wildlife guide at the Central Park Zoo. Her familiarity with the city's history and architecture paired with her love of zoos led to the writing of this book. Her talent as a researcher and writer make this book a loving tribute to her city and its zoos.