Nashville Zoo and the Grassmere Historic Farm grounds are open! House tours will resume at a date TB
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Website: http://nashvillezoo.org/historic-home
Nashville Zoo Mission: To inspire a culture of understanding and discovery of our natural world through conservation, innovation and leadership. Grassmere Historic Farm Mission: To preserve and interpret the Croft House and Grassmere Historic Farm, in order to enrich and inspire our visitors, and to educate them on the past, present and future of the property known as the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere.
Last week, staff from American Association for State and Local History presented the Zoo and Historic Site Manager Tori Mason with the Leadership in History Award of Excellence for The Morton Family Exhibit and Opening Ceremony. Awards were presented during AASLH's annual conference in Buffalo, NY in September, but with their headquarters in Nashville, staff were able to make this presentation in person. Thank you AASLH!
Today we're welcoming carolers from the Nashville Caroling Company to the Croft House! Swing by between 1-3:30 for some festive Christmas tunes!
We had some visitors stop by the Croft House yesterday! 🥰🦩 Did you know our flock of ambassador Chilean flamingos take a daily walk around the zoo? You can catch them around noon every day, weather permitting!
Photo by Jake Y
Have you made it out to Zoolumination yet? The Croft House is open each night from 5:15-9pm for a walkthrough of the downstairs! Stop by and see the home all decorated for Christmas, warm up for a bit, and say hi!
**Staff will take short breaks from the top of each hour to 15 past. If the door is locked, it will reopen soon!**
The zoo is CLOSED today for Thanksgiving. But after you've feasted, why not come and walk off that pie with a visit to Zoolumination! We will be OPEN from 5-9pm tonight! Bring the family and enjoy the lights and lanterns!
We're ready for Christmas! Are you? Starting today, we are offering Christmas tours along with out traditional house tours. Plus we'll be open nightly during Zoolumination for a walk through peek at the downstairs all decorated for a Victorian Christmas. We can't wait to see you! 🎄🎄🎄
Due to the weather today (wind advisory and storms), we are cancelling the scheduled Celebrate Reading event happening today. We are still collecting book donations at the gift shop. Plan to join us NEXT Saturday, Nov 12, for Celebrate Reading and all the fun activities!
Stay safe out there!
Stanley wishes you a safe and Happy Halloween! 🧡🎃
Photo: Keeper Dakota
Have you hugged a sheep today??
Happy Halloween from us to you! This photo is from our archives, but unfortunately, we don't know who the ghosts and witch are, or what year this was taken. But it's positively spooky! 👻🎃🧙♀️
We've been enjoying the gorgeous color at the farm this year! But with storms and wind moving in today, the pretty leaves may be gone soon 😕🍁🍂
We love fall most of all 🥰🍁🍂🍁🍂
Have you visited the Morton Family Exhibit at the farm? We recently were recognized by the The Association of Zoos and Aquariums with Top Honors with their 2022 Angela Peterson Excellence in Diversity Award for telling the story of Frank Morton and his family, and their contributions to the success of the Grassmere farm.
Also, thanks to WKRN News 2 for helping us tell the Morton's story. Fun side note....the photographer for this story is related to the Morton's through marriage!!
https://www.wkrn.com/news/nashville-zoo/zoopalooza-morton-house-teaches-history-of-post-emancipation/?fbclid=IwAR1TPx7_dOMyxXtMxYTvsfQvTfS-rtqLt-bVoJEA_opzn478c5k0sUQqSYI
The Nashville Zoo wants you to come and learn about the rich history of Grassmere, including the life of Frank Morton and his family.
Our "Dying Traditions and Superstitions" tours during Boo at the Zoo are BACK after a 2-year break! The Croft House will be decorated as if someone in the family has recently died, complete with original mourning clothing from our collection and an 1890s coffin! Take a tour and learn about why we wear black to funerals, the real reason flowers were sent to funerals, and where the term 'a wake' originated. Tours are on the half hour, from 5:30-8:30 nightly. A timed ticket is required, but tours are free and included in Boo at the Zoo admission. We'll see you at Boo at the Zoo!
Today, Tuesday Oct 11, starts the zoo's 'winter' hours. The zoo will close at 4pm daily.
We are heartbroken to hear of the passing this week of Bradford Dallas, age 98, of Miami FL. Mr. Dallas managed the Croft sister's business in Cuba until 1961, when he fled the island due to the Cuban Revolution. Historic Site Manager Tori Mason and Jennifer Randles from the TN State Library and Archives met Mr. Dallas and his family in 2018 when they traveled to Miami, and later to Havana, for research and oral histories on his time on the island. Those recordings, photos and memories are now more precious than ever to our collection.
Rest well, Mr. Dallas. Your legacy and memories will live on in our interpretation at the Croft House and Historic Farm. We're grateful to have known you.
Come meet the Tyne Meade Garden Club in the herb garden at 10:00 today to learn about drying herbs, seed saving, and more!
Join us today, Saturday Sept 24, for our Hispanic Heritage Festival! We are proud to partner with Conexion Americas for this celebration of culture and community. We will be offering special Spanish language tours of the Historic Home, as well as a Cuba highlights tour. You can also enjoy special food and drinks, music, dance performances, and animal presentations. Timed entry reservations are required, and the event is included with Zoo admission.
The zoo will CLOSE at 2pm on Saturday, Sept 17, to prepare for Sunset Safari! We hope to see you there!
Sheep and goat shenanigans 🤣
https://fb.watch/fAch_BmAVO/
We had a visitor to the Historic Farm! Meet Wednesday, our 4-month old King Vulture! She is part of our Animal Ambassador team, and is getting out and about to get acclimated to being around people and all of the sights and sounds of the zoo. She did a LOT of exploring!
(Photos: Samantha M, Tori M)
Please join us in wishing Mr. Bradford Dallas a happy 98th birthday! Mr. Dallas lived in Havana and ran Margaret and Elise Croft's father's business, the General Concrete Construction Company of Cuba, from 1945-1959, when it was confiscated by Fidel Castro during the Cuban Revolution. Letters from Mr. Dallas at that time painted a harrowing time in our nations history, as well as his personal life, and ultimately that of the Croft sisters.
We were honored to meet Mr. Dallas and his family in Miami in 2018 when we conducted an oral history interview with him. We want to wish him all the best on this momentous day! Happy birthday, Mr. Dallas!
For more information on the Croft family's life in Cuba, including some oral history clips with Mr. Dallas from 2018, visit https://teva.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15138coll31/search/searchterm/cuba
The Historic Home will be closed this morning, and will open for tours at noon today. Thank you for your understanding!
The Historic Home will be CLOSED all day today (Tuesday Aug 16,) and Wednesday morning, Aug 17, while our staff participate in the AZA Educator's Conference. The home will reopen for tours at noon on Wednesday. Thank you for your understanding!
Have you ever wanted to see beekeepers in action? Join us TODAY at 11am at the Historic Farm apiary to watch a hive inspection and bee feeding take place! The zoo's Apiary Team will be present to answer questions and let you know what's happening with the Historic Farm Hives!
Have you ever wanted to see beekeepers in action? Join us tomorrow, Sunday August 14 at 11am at the Historic Farm apiary to watch a hive inspection and bee feeding take place! The zoo's Apiary Team will be present to answer questions and let you know what's happening with the Historic Farm Hives!
Otto is such a patient "uncle" to Louisa!
(Photo by Dakota)
It's , and what could possibly be CUTER than a bunch of bees getting a drink of water!
(Photo by Megan C)
Have you taken a stroll through the Grassmere gardens lately?? They're at their peak right now! The squirrels may have won the battle with the corn, but everything else is thriving! What's your favorite thing in the garden?
We had a visitor in the garden yesterday! This non-venomous gray rat snake was in then process of shedding its skin, and was calmly moving over the gravel and through the rocks to help facilitate that process.
Snakes are an important part of the ecosystem! They control rodent populations that could quickly get out of control, and act as a natural form of pest control. We're always glad to see snakes around the farm. And this one was a beauty!
Heads up....the zoo will close at 4pm today, Friday July 29, for Red, White and Zoo! Last house tour will be at 3pm.
Tickets are still available!!
https://www.nashvillezoo.org/wine
Enjoy unlimited samples of wines from around the world as you stroll through the Zoo's exotic habitats. Plus, live music, animal encounters, local food trucks and a selection of craft beers & spirits make for a memorable evening.
Warning! There have been Naked Ladies spotted on the farm grounds! ;)
Also called Surprise lilies or Resurrection lilies, these beautiful flowers pop up every summer. We just love them, and they smell heavenly!
As we wind up Zookeeper Week, we need to give a shout out to the Contact Areas Team! These are the folks that care for all of the critters at the Historic Farm, as well as Critter Encounters and Kangaroo Kickabout. In the photos below, you'll see Daniel sitting in as a climbing structure for goats, and Dakota with his beloved Devon steers. They're regularly at the farm, so be sure to tell them hello, and thanks next time you see them!
Thanks Contact crew! We
Z O O K E E P E R 🦘 W E E K
It's time for the Contact Areas Team!
Our Contact Team works all over the zoo, caring for our kangaroos, porcupines, goats, alpaca, and farm animals! They also facilitate tons of guest interactions from Alpaca walks to pig parties! Plus, they provide emotional support for staff and guests alike in the form of baby kangaroos and goats (who doesn't love a baby goat!)
Thanks for everything you do Contact Team! (and the baby goats!)
Nashville Zoo At Grassmere, 3777 Nolensville Road
Nashville, TN
37211
| Monday | 9am - 6pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 9pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 6pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 6pm |
| Friday | 9am - 9pm |
| Saturday | 9am - 9pm |
| Sunday | 9am - 4pm |
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We had a visitor in the garden yesterday! This non-venomous gray rat snake was in then process of shedding its skin, and was calmly moving over the gravel and through the rocks to help facilitate that process. Snakes are an important part of the ecosystem! They control rodent populations that could quickly get out of control, and act as a natural form of pest control. We're always glad to see snakes around the farm. And this one was a beauty!
Enrichment is something we provide our animals daily - by providing toys, food or training opportunities, they have the ability to explore, exercise, play or learn, thus giving them physical and mental stimulation. So what happens when we take down Christmas at the Croft House for the season, and give the Devon steers one of the Christmas trees for enrichment? Well, take a look..... (Video by keeper Dakota)
The Historic Farm is SOOOO pretty when it snows! And the zoo will be closed again on Wednesday due to the weather. ❄❄❄
So, what do you do with a 12' tall Christmas tree once you're done with it? Why, you give it to the cattle for some enrichment!! Boone and Tipton thoroughly enjoyed their Christmas tree enrichment after the Croft House staff and a couple of docents finished taking down Christmas this weekend! Enrichment is so important for all our zoo animals - it keeps them active, interested, and encourages natural behaviors! (Thanks to keeper Dakota for the video!)
The rain's stopped and our carolers from The American Caroling Company are keeping things warm and cozy! Stop by and give them a listen!
Some great bluegrass music by Grasstime
The rain's stopped, the music is still going, and we're having a great time!
It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas...
Check out this GREAT video of Diego, our Harris's Hawk, flying on the front lawn! Big thanks to Behavioral Husbandry Keeper Melinda for sharing her AWESOME video! You can catch an Animal Encounter daily at 2pm (except Monday) on the front lawn of the Historic Home. You might even be lucky enough to catch this guy!
Buffy, the zoo's education chicken, came to the farm for our daily Animal Encounter program. She was a very happy, dirty chicken after her dirt bath! Animal Encounter programs happen every day except Monday at 2pm on the front lawn. You never know who you may meet!
The real question is, why is there a zoo around a house! Built in 1810 and owned by 5 generations of the same family, the Croft House and Grassmere Historic Farm sit as the centerpiece of the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. 5th generation owners Margaret and Elise Croft, never-married sisters, loved animals, nature, and their ancestral home and land. In the 1960’s, Nashville’s growth and development threatened the 300 acre farm they so dearly loved. They entered into an agreement with the Nashville Children’s Museum (today known as the Adventure Science Center) that insured the land would remain a “nature study center” for years to come, educating the people of Nashville about the animals they held dear. Nashville Zoo began managing the property in 1997, continuing to honor the wishes of the Croft sisters. Thanks to their vision, Nashville Zoo at Grassmere is on track to become one of the top zoos in the country, seeing a million visitors annually, and educating guests about animals, habitats, conservation and the environment, just at Margaret and Elise wished.
The Croft House is open for tours seasonally, showcasing many original pieces of furniture, artwork, china, clothing and family photos, and detailing the story of the Dunn, Shute and Croft families. Guided tours, tours aimed at children, and self-guided style tours are offered daily. For information on when tours are available, visit https://www.nashvillezoo.org/guided-tours#house. Tours are included with zoo admission. The Historic Farm grounds, which include a garden, original outbuildings and a livestock barn with heritage breeds of cattle and sheep, are open daily.
Website: http://nashvillezoo.org/historic-home Nashville Zoo Mission: To inspire a culture of understanding and discovery of our natural world through conservation, innovation and leadership. Grassmere Historic Farm Mission: To preserve and interpret the Croft House and Grassmere Historic Farm, in order to enrich and inspire our visitors, and to educate them on the past, present and future of the property known as the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere.
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