The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo turns 50 years old in 2015, and the entire community is invited to be part of the celebration.

“The zoo was built by this community, starting with the school children who donated pennies to build Monkey Island back in 1965,” said Zoo Director Jim Anderson. “Since then, thousands of families and businesses have donated funds to create everything you see at the zoo.”

More than 20 million people have visited the zoo since it opened on July 3, 1965, and more than $32 million has been donated for capital projects.

“The zoo’s 50th Birthday Celebration is our way of thanking the community for five decades of outstanding support,” Anderson said.

To kick off the celebration, the zoo invites the community to submit photos of their families enjoying the zoo. Photos from the 1960s and 1970s are especially needed, but all photos are welcome. Submitted photos may be used in the zoo’s 2015 advertising campaign. Fans may submit photos before Feb. 28 by posting them to the zoo’s social media accounts, emailing them to [email protected], or bringing prints to the zoo, where they will be scanned and returned.

The 50th Birthday Celebration will continue all season long. Highlights will include a “Happy Birthday to Zoo” Party on July 1 with performances by local youth choirs; a giant Birthday Card for zoo guests to sign; appearances by the zoo’s new mascot at community events; partnerships with the Three Rivers Festival and Fort Wayne TinCaps; paw prints painted on roads leading to the zoo this summer; signs showing “Then & Now” zoo photos; a Nature Scavenger Hunt for kids; contests on social media; an expanded zoo history section on the zoo’s website; and more. Commemorative merchandise will be available in the zoo’s Wild Things Gift Shop all season.

“The support of our community has made the zoo the world-class facility we are today,” said Anderson. “We’re excited to share 50 years of zoo memories as we continue to grow the zoo for the next generation of kids and families.”

The zoo opens for the 2015 season on April 25.

Below are photos from the past: