Day 165 – The Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium Spoon

To compliment Monday’s Woodland Park Zoo spoon, I present one from our zoo neighbor to the south, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington. 

The zoo has been around since 1905 and the aquarium since 1935, but they were in separate locations until 1963, when the aquarium relocated onto zoo property. 

Now, let’s all sing the theme song: “I wanna do *clap clap* Point Defiance Zoo!! somethingsomething polar bear…and don’t forget the walrus!”

Day 164 – The Toronto Zoo Spoon

This spoon from the Metro Toronto Zoo in Toronto, Ontario, Canada was made in 1985 for the visit of two Pandas from the Peoples’ Republic of China, Qing Qing and Quan Quan. I guess that’s why it says “Panda Visit” at the top. 

Day 163 – The Woodland Park Zoo Spoon

Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington is situated on a large piece of property that used to belong to Guy Phinney, a wealthy real estate developer. Phinney’s estate included a small menagerie (with deer, bears, and an ostrich) in the northwest corner of his property. 

Phinney died in 1893 and his property, along with the animals, was purchased in 1899 by the city of Seattle and turned into a public park and zoological gardens. 

1891 photo showing the lodge at south entrance of Woodland Park estate owned by Guy Carleton Phinney. Hotel is seen in the background and the two boys on the right side of road are Arthur and Walter, Guy Phinney's sons. (Seattle Municipal Archives)
1891 photo showing the lodge at south entrance of Woodland Park estate owned by Guy Carleton Phinney. Hotel is seen in the background and the two boys on the right side of road are Arthur and Walter, Guy Phinney’s sons. (Seattle Municipal Archives)

Today’s modern Woodland Park Zoo is on the upper portion of the original Phinney estate in the neighborhood that bears his name.

I’m a lifelong Seattle resident and have been a zoo member for decades, but strangely enough, I didn’t have a WPZ spoon. Their gift shop no longer sells them, so I had to get one from eBay.