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The Baltimore Zoo in Druid Hill Park

In this post of our Aspect Ratio photography series, Imaging Services Technician and Staff Photographer Dan Goodrich explores images of the Baltimore Zoo at the turn of the twentieth century.

With approximately 500,000 visitors each year, there is a good chance most Maryland residents have been to the Maryland Zoo (previously known as the Baltimore Zoo) at least once in their lives. However, I would wager that most recent visitors don’t remember it looking the way it does in the photos below. The change and growth since its opening in 1876 is remarkable, and we here at the Maryland Historical Society appreciate being able to share a city with the third-oldest zoo in the United States.

 

Cages and visitors at the zoo in Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, unidentified photographer, circa 1920-1930, 1994.42.099. Julius Anderson Photograph Collection, 1994.42 & 1995.62, H. Furlong Baldwin Library, Maryland Historical Society (Reference Photo).

Cages and visitors at the zoo in Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, unidentified photographer, circa 1920-1930, 1994.42.099. Julius Anderson Photograph Collection, 1994.42 & 1995.62, H. Furlong Baldwin Library, Maryland Historical Society.

 

Baltimore - Parks and Squares - Druid Hill Park - Elk, unidentified photographer, circa 1905. Subject Vertical File, H. Furlong Baldwin Library, Maryland Historical Society (Reference Photo).

Baltimore – Parks and Squares – Druid Hill Park – Elk, unidentified photographer, circa 1905. Subject Vertical File, H. Furlong Baldwin Library, Maryland Historical Society.

 

Baltimore - Parks & Squares- Druid Hill Park - Bear Pit, unidentified photographer, circa 1885. Subject Vertical File, H. Furlong Baldwin Library, Maryland Historical Society (Reference Photo).

Baltimore – Parks & Squares- Druid Hill Park – Bear Pit, unidentified photographer, circa 1885. Subject Vertical File, H. Furlong Baldwin Library, Maryland Historical Society.

 

One of the most interesting finds was a photo of a park policeman seen in the bear pit–with the bear(!)–looking almost nonchalantly into the camera. Bears are not your typical occupational hazard for a city police officer. (Dan Goodrich)

 

Park Policeman - Baltimore City Park (Druid Hill Park). Unidentified photographer. Undated. Z24.468, MdHS.

Park Policeman – Baltimore City Park (Druid Hill Park), unidentified photographer, undated, Z24.468. H. Furlong Baldwin Library, Maryland Historical Society.

 

Dan Goodrich, Imaging Services Technician and Staff Photographer, joined the Maryland Historical Society in 2017. He has been digitizing and photographing archival and museum materials full-time since his graduation from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.