Whereas, in 1910, the citizens of Saint Louis, Missouri,
inspired by the Smithsonian’s Flight Cage, a large walk-through bird cage
constructed in Saint Louis for the 1904 World’s Fair and purchased by the city
of Saint Louis at the conclusion of the fair, formed the Saint Louis Zoological
Society and encouraged the city of Saint Louis to set aside 77 acres in
historic Forest Park for the establishment of a zoological park;
Whereas, guided by legislation providing that the
zoo shall be forever free
and supported by the extraordinary generosity
of the people of Saint Louis, the Saint Louis Zoo is, and has been since its
inception, accessible for all, enriching the lives of millions of people,
including a record 3,101,830 visitors in 2009;
Whereas, through the exceptional work of dedicated staff,
state-of-the-art facilities including the Endangered Species Research Center
and Veterinary Hospital, and initiatives such as the WildCare Institute, the
Saint Louis Zoo has established itself as a world leader in the conservation of
endangered species and their habitats;
Whereas, through classroom presentations, zoo tours,
outreach programs, and educational resources such as the Library and Teacher
Resource Center, the Saint Louis Zoo has provided invaluable educational
opportunities to the members of the public, including tens of thousands of
school children from the Saint Louis area for generations; and
Whereas the 2010 centennial anniversary of the founding of
the Saint Louis Zoo is an achievement of historic proportions for the City of
Saint Louis, the State of Missouri, the United States, and the world
conservation community: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate commemorates the
100th anniversary of the founding of the Saint Louis Zoo on September 24,
2010.