Graphic Courtesy of the Maryland Zoo
BALTIMORE, MD – In 2026, one of Central Maryland’s most beloved institutions is celebrating a milestone. This year, the Maryland Zoo turns 150 years old and everyone is invited!
The year-long festivities include an official party on April 7th (the date of the Zoo’s founding in 1876), a Zoo-themed evening with Stoop Storytelling on April 25th, the return of Zoomerang (a wild gala like no other) on June 12th, and the opening of a new habitat for red pandas early this summer.
Commemorations include historic markers, walking tours, and, later this year, the release of a book about the Zoo’s rich history. Complete information about Sesquicentennial events is available on our 150th Anniversary page.
“We’re celebrating our anniversary in many ways but, most importantly, by reimagining Main Valley, which is the oldest area of the Zoo,” said Zoo President & CEO, Kirby Fowler. “The opening of our new red panda exhibit this June is the first time we’ve had a new habitat for a new animal species in more than two decades.”
“Within a few years, we’ll also add a habitat for gibbons and create an entire new section of Main Valley, called the Harvey M. Meyerhoff Plaza, which will be a year-round destination with a cafe, event space, and splash pad for warm summer days,” Fowler said.
