Seal House

Starting in 1872, a small collection of animals and birds occupied the Park, and by the 1900s it had grown to 47 species. Some species were housed in the Menagerie building in today’s zoo, while others, including bison, bear, and deer, were scattered throughout the Park. The Seal House, though home to sea lions, was constructed in 1938 along with a monkey house and an elephant house as part of a Works Progress Administration project. Its stone structure echoed designs built throughout the country during the Great Depression, and its pool area was designed so a large crowd could gather around the sea lions at any given time. In June 1938, six sea lions occupied the pool. In 1965, all of the animals were moved into a fenced area in the current location of the Zoo to provide better security and husbandry.

Providence, Rhode Island · United States