Brookfield Zoo celebrates 75 years

Vintage pictures from Brookfield Zoo that opened July 1, 1934. Also, check out more recent images of the zoo here.
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Olga, the walrus, takes her cue from trainer Maribeth Rook and blows kisses to the crowd that helped celebrate her 23rd birthday at the Brookfield Zoo. The female Atlantic walrus arrived at the zoo as a one-year-old pup in 1962.<br>
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At the time of her death in August of 1988, Olga weighed 2,500 pounds, was 11 feet long, and believed to be the oldest walrus in any zoo or aquarium at the age of 26.

Kiss for the crowd

(Tribune photo by John Bartley / June 22, 1984)

Olga, the walrus, takes her cue from trainer Maribeth Rook and blows kisses to the crowd that helped celebrate her 23rd birthday at the Brookfield Zoo. The female Atlantic walrus arrived at the zoo as a one-year-old pup in 1962.

At the time of her death in August of 1988, Olga weighed 2,500 pounds, was 11 feet long, and believed to be the oldest walrus in any zoo or aquarium at the age of 26.