The Milwaukee County Zoo was founded over 130 years ago. That’s almost as old as some Galapagos tortoises! In 1892, a miniature mammal and bird display in Milwaukee’s Washington Park proved to be a very popular attraction. By the turn of the century, it showcased more than 800 animals on 23 acres of land. Over the next hundred years, the Milwaukee County Zoo expanded constantly to the 190-acre site home to more than 2,200 animals and over 340 species we know and love today.