Figure 1.--These Dutch boys in 1929 are visiting a zoo with their mother. Notice the matching sailor suits the two brothers are wearing.

The origins of modern zoos are the menageries kept by royal and nobel families on the grounds of their palaces. A zoolgical park was in many ways similar to visits to other urban parks. In fact some of the early zoos were set in existing parks such as the Regents Park Zoo in London or the Cental Park Zoo in New York. The visits to the zoos, however, wer different in that the children came primarily to view the animals rather than to play like roll hoops or to sail model sail boats. By the late 19th century, major European capitals and many other large cities had zoos which had become very popular. We believe that boys wore much the same clothes when visiting zoos as they did when going to other urban parks, but this requires confirmation. Sailor suits would have been a coomon outfit. School and youth groups, especially Cub Scouts, would have also been common sites.

Zoos

The origins of modern zoos are the menageries kept by royal and nobel families on the grounds of their palaces. These ere not publiz exhibits, but for the musement of poweful leaders. The earliest known collection of animals was that of Shulgi, soverign of Ur in Sumer (southeast Iraq) (about 2400 BC). Queen Hatshepsut a rate female pharoah in Egypt, collected animals from all parts of Africa. They showed the Egyptian trade links with sub-Saharan Africa. Some historians credit her with the first real zoo (1500 BC). Chinese Emperor Wen Wang also had an impressive collection of animals (1100 BC). He built a huge zoo to display his wealth and power. It was named the Garden of Intelligence and covered about 1500 acres. It consisted of animals from the various regions of his empire. The Greeks refecting their democracy were the first to collect birds and mammals in a public zoo. And it was not just a pleasure park. The amimals were sudied by the Greeks. The Romans were also interested in animals. Many were brought from the foreign lands they had conquered. As well as trade with Africa made possible with conquests. They were kept them in private zoos. Animals were commonly used in the bloody gladitorial fights in the Coliseum. Interest and knowledge of wildlife wained in Europe during the medieval era. This began to change as the European maritime expansion and exploration began (15th century) and the colonial era began. Zoos began to appear again. Austrian Emperor Franz Josef built a zoo for his wife, Maria Theresa (1752). It is the oldest zoo still in existence today. The oldest scientific zoo is the London Zoo (1828). A zoolgical park was in many ways similar to visits to other urban parks. In fact some of the early zoos were set in existing parks such as the Regents Park Zoo in London or the Cental Park Zoo in New York. The San Diego Zoo in California has the largest collection of animals in the world today, some 5,100 animals.

Modern Trends

Zoos were initially little more than prisons for animals so people could view them. Many have now develooed much more humane dispalys. Increasingly zoos are conducing important research on how to manage these species in the wild as well as providing islands for the animals to survive when their habitat is being destroyed.

Zoo Visits

The visits to the zoos, however, wer different in that the children came primarily to view the animals rather than to play like roll hoops or to sail model sail boats. This may have affected how children were dressed for zoo visits.

Social Class Factors

Many of these zoos required an entrance fee. Although we do not have details, we believe that such entrance fees were common. This meant esentially that the zoos became middle-class facilities. Many poor boys would grow up without visiting a zoo. Thois of course affected the way the children visiting zoos were dressed. It also meant that most chldren visiting zoos were accompanied by adults. School groups might visit zoos. This was mostly parents, but after Cub Scoutting began, zoos were a popular trip for Cubs.

Chronology

By the late 19th century, major European capitals and many other large cities had zoos which had become very popular. We believe that boys wore much the same clothes when visiting zoos as they did when going to other urban parks, but this requires confirmation. Sailor suits would have been a coomon outfit. School and youth groups, especially Cub Scouts, would have also been common sites.

Countries

Virtually every country had some sort of zoo in its capital city ot major cities. Important countries like England, France, Germany, and Italy had major zoos. Most had several zoos located not only in the capital, but major cities as well. The zoos varied greatly in size and diversity of species as well as how well the animals were cared for. There are few important cities, however, that did not have some kind of zoo. Images of the children visiting the zoos provide wonderful views of national fashions as well as changing fashion trends over time. Some country and chronolical trends are easy to identify, other scenes are more generic in character.

Created: December 16, 2001
Last updated: 5:47 AM 7/23/2018