Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis, MO, Guia do visitante e o que fazer por perto

The Saint Louis Zoo is a large zoo in Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri, and general admission is free. It opened in 1910 and has long been one of the city's best-loved public places, a spot where families can spend a day close to animals from around the world without buying a ticket at the gate.

The story behind it

The zoo's roots go back to the 1904 World's Fair, which took over Forest Park. A huge bird cage built for that fair stayed behind, and the city later turned the idea of a permanent zoo into a reality. The zoo is generally dated to 1910.

What sets it apart is the idea that learning about animals and nature should be open to everyone, whatever their means. That is why general admission is free, and it is a large part of why generations of St. Louis families have grown up visiting. The zoo also works on animal care and conservation, so a visit is as much about understanding animals as looking at them.

What to look for

• Look for the large Flight Cage, a leftover from the 1904 World's Fair, which is one of the zoo's oldest and most distinctive structures.
• Notice how the zoo sits inside Forest Park, with mature trees, lakes and paths leading in from every side.
• Read the signs beside the habitats, which explain where each animal lives in the wild and why it needs protecting.
• Watch how the exhibits are grouped by region and habitat, so that a short walk can take you from one kind of landscape to another.

Tips for your visit

• Plan on at least half a day if you want to see the main exhibits without rushing, and longer with young children.
• Go early in the day, especially in warm weather, when many animals are more active and the paths are quieter.
• General admission is free, but some extra attractions inside may charge, so check current details before you go.
• Forest Park around the zoo has more to explore, including museums and open lawns, so it is easy to build a whole day around the visit.

See it on a quest

If you want to see the zoo and its surroundings with a purpose, try Kid Quest: Solve the case of the lost senses in St. Louis, MO. It is a self-guided walk played on your phone: you reach the zoo on foot as one stop on a longer route through the area, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. The detective theme makes it a good fit for children, and one ticket covers the whole group. You can start any time, with no guide and no group to join.