In 1966, the Crown Zellerbach paper company held a contest. The grand prize catch phrase was "win $3,000 or a baby elephant." The contest winner, a local grocer, surprised everyone when he chose the elephant! So a two-year-old female Asian elephant was brought to Alaska. Eventually the grocer offered the elephant to Mrs. Sammye Seawell, who owned the Diamond H horse ranch where the elephant had been kept previously (they had the only heated stalls).
As the local community became increasingly interested in visiting Annabelle, Mrs. Seawell began to realize that Anchorage needed a place where the public could visit animals and learn about them. In 1968, she led a small group of supporters in forming a non-profit corporation. In 1969, the Alaska Children's Zoo opened, taking in orphaned and injured animals that needed homes. Over 30 years later, we are still committed to this mission.
Today, the Alaska Zoo sits on 25 wooded acres located in the beautiful hillside area of Anchorage. We are home to just under 100 birds and mammals. We are renovating exhibits, planning new construction and expanding our educational services. We are one of the most visited attractions in the state, with an annual attendance of close to 200,000 visitors. Don’t miss your opportunity to experience a unique and special place in Alaska.
Current Hours:
9:00 AM to 6:00 PM - 7 days per week!
Starting June 1, we will be open until 9:00 PM on Tuesdays and Fridays only
We are open all year except for Christmas and Thanksgiving Days
Admission:
Adults $9.00
Seniors over 65 $8.00
Children ages 12 - 17 $5.00
Children ages 3 - 11 $4.00
Discounted Education Rate for School and Community Groups:
$4.00 per child (under 18 years) and $6.00 per adult
All groups wishing to schedule a field trip during the school year should contact Marva Stevens at (907) 742-4147. She does all of our field trip scheduling for both Anchorage and outside areas during the school year.
If you have questions about scheduling, email klarson@alaskazoo.org.
Visit there site here. www.alaskazoo.org
