Art
For most Americans, exotic animals existed only in stories and schoolbooks—until zoos opened their gates in the 1800s. A trip to see a living hippopotamus or elephant became an affordable family outing that sparked wonder and connected ordinary people to a wider world.
Art · Full story
You push through the turnstile with your children, who tug at your sleeve. The smell hits first—damp, earthy, alive. Then you see it: a massive hippopotamus, gray and glistening, half-submerged in murky water. Your daughter gasps. For a few coins, you've traveled further than you ever have.
Reflect
What animals or places have you visited that made you feel connected to something larger than your everyday world?