The Lincoln Park Zoo, founded in 1868, is one of the oldest zoos in the US. It is owned by the Chicago city parks department and is managed by the Chicago Zoological Society. Because the zoo is financed by the city and by private donations, it is free to all visitors.
It has a wide-ranging and diverse collection of species from all over the world, and I was able to see many species that I had not before.
Also, the landscaping in the zoo is very nicely done, with a number of nature trails and boardwalks, making it a very pleasant place to simply walk around.
(See my earlier photo diary of Chicago here: http://www.dailykos.com/... .)
![DSCN4312](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8173/8024717740_aa84737950.jpg)
View of downtown Chicago from zoo
![DSCN4400](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8170/8024704328_e9688aaf76.jpg)
One of the zoo's landscaped walkway paths.
![DSCN4316](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8176/8024717903_5d64550f1d.jpg)
Dairy farm exhibit
![DSCN4321](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8450/8024715376_8070e47f44.jpg)
Wild black-eyed Susans
![DSCN4328](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8312/8024715363_7f094f2c20.jpg)
Kangaroos
![DSCN4398](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8040/8024706411_af02fb6753.jpg)
Smooth-scaled Green Snake
![DSCN4333](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8176/8024714985_d9b6758349.jpg)
Sichuan Takin, from China.
![DSCN4341](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8456/8024712569_888d1c21a3.jpg)
DeBrazza's monkey, from Africa.
![DSCN4361](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8459/8024709704_00b9ef343e.jpg)
Frogmouths
![DSCN4327](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8450/8024715781_ef53e9fa89.jpg)
Bactrian camel
![DSCN4370](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8449/8024708464_08f50f8a61.jpg)
Wildflower
![DSCN4363](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8449/8024710903_709a5d59c6.jpg)
Scarlet ibis
![DSCN4372](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8037/8024708030_e4449b5391.jpg)
Black rhino
![DSCN4375](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8309/8024707092_fc2bd123bb.jpg)
Red river hog
![DSCN4391](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8179/8024705694_e7368c31f9.jpg)
Giraffe
![DSCN4378](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8457/8024708283_1aeb69ba7b.jpg)
Giraffes
![DSCN4404](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8313/8024703438_79852a02c1.jpg)
Aruba Island rattlesnake
![DSCN4364](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8036/8024710509_14ff920bc6.jpg)
Interior of the Bird House
![DSCN4478](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8030/8024784651_7ee077c8a1.jpg)
Wild Canadian geese