By Mary Giorgio
On April 18, 1964, the Washington Park Children’s Zoo opened to much fanfare. Located on East 30th Street in Indianapolis, the zoo featured penguins, camels, buffalos, and more. In its first year of operation, more than 270,000 people visited the new zoo.
The zoo featured large fiberglass statues of animals, made by Ball State professor Richard Kishel. His iconic giraffe and whale statues became instant favorites of the many children who visited the zoo.