History, Ruins, and Tales at the Old LA Zoo

Deep in the heart of Griffith Park lies the haunting, crumbling beauty of the old Griffith Park Zoo—a location filled with more hidden history than any tour map can reveal. Join Curio Club LA as we go back in time to learn about the history of the old zoo. We are thrilled to host Michael Fritzen, a dedicated historian and passionate LA explorer who knows the secrets of those abandoned grottoes better than anyone. Michael will lead us through the ruins, as he shares stories, pictures, and lore about the old zoo. Hear about former employees and some the animals that lived there, such as Topsy the camel, one of the Zoo’s most famous residents, a descendent of the original 33 Middle Eastern camels imported by Jefferson Davis in 1852. Did you know that Los Angeles was the wild animal center of the world back in 1916? It's true! "There were a staggering…