Ross Park Zoo

Erastus Ross

It’s been 148 years since the park first opened yet there are still remnants of yesteryear that can be seen. Look around and you'll see the past all around you like the old stone walls and staircases, an old cage and even one of our historic carousels which came to the park in 1920.

Quite a few years have passed since those horse and buggy days but our Zoo is still bringing smiles to thousands of people every year with its many attractions, events and wondrous residents.

With the new spring making its way into our lives many of us will be taking to the roads on our bicycles. A common sight that has had a few changes over the years to the design of the bike, but if you go back far enough the concept of a two wheel bike or Penny - Farthing as later called, was a bit astounding. A talent for sure to master and a slightly higher seat to fall from in failed attempts, these high wheels were actually fairly fast and comfortable once you got the knack of it. You could even race them as these men were doing here in New York in 1890. But as time went on, more traditional looking bikes came to be, from the tricycle and every kid's dream, the plastic Big Wheel on up to the Road Bike, BMX & Touring Bikes of today. If you search you can still find replicas of the old Penny-Farthings for sale and if you don't mind parting with a small fortune there are a few of the real McCoys still to be had. And for those with a little more than a passing interest, every year they still race these giants in Sweden.

It doesn't take much to recall special moments in our lives. Sometimes just seeing something from our youth like an old bicycle can bring back a lot of fond memories. So if you love our history, nostalgia and antiques as much as we do, why not visit one of our great antique stores and take a trip down memory lane.