1892 City of Norfolk purchases 65 acres of land that is currently occupied by Lafayette Park and the Virginia Zoo

1899 City officially designates the city's park as Lafayette Park

1900 Park begins acquiring zoological specimens on exhibit

1901 Animal collection exceeds 200 animals including mammals, birds and reptiles

1910 Animals, including monkeys, ducks, sea lions and a bear are housed in outdoor exhibits separated by paved roads - which allows visitors to drive through the park

1948 Mother Goose Barnyard opens with pigs, ducks and turkeys

1954 New stone dwelling area for sea lions opens

1969 Construction of Mammal House begins - housing African Elephants, Rhinoceros and Tapir

1974 Animal area is fenced off from the city park and named Lafayette Zoological Park

1974-1980's Older exhibits at this time are removed and renovated for general Zoo improvements

1979 The Friends of the Zoo is established as a non-stock corporation for the purposes of acting as an advisory supportive society in the development of Lafayette Zoological Park.

1985 Lafayette Zoological Park is renamed the Virginia Zoological Park at Norfolk (commonly, Virginia Zoo)

1987 Virginia Zoological Park achieves accreditation by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA)

1989 Friends of the Zoo officially changes their name to Virginia Zoological Society and operates as the non-profit official support organization for the Virginia Zoological Park with the responsibility of generating community and financial support

1992 Master Plan is adopted by City of Norfolk and Virginia Zoological Society. Plan includes zoogeographic vision of five continent expansion as well as erection of new Education Complex and Visitor Center. Plan includes exhibits of Africa, North America, Australia, South America and Asia.

1992 Two Siberian tiger cubs are temporarily housed at the Zoo after being recovered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service from an illegal trader

1993 Fundraising begins for the capital campaign for Master Plan Phase I: African plains exhibit and Education Complex and Visitor Center

1995 Community - including Hampton Roads' Exxon dealers - connects with the tiger cubs and responds by raising enough money for the first major new exhibit since 1969

1999 Part I of Phase I opens - including Gelada baboon habitat and Xaxaba African village and 100th Anniversary of Virginia Zoo and Lafayette Park

2001 Design for Master Plan Phase II: North America exhibit begins

2002 Part II of Phase I opens: African Okavango Delta exhibit, thus completing Phase I of the Master Plan

2004 Part I of Phase II opens: prairie dog habitat.