Photos: Vilas Zoo throughout the years
From the Complete coverage: The remarkable journey of Nora, Madison's newest polar bear series
A look at Henry Vilas Zoo throughout the years.Â
Henry Vilas Zoo, 1980 Photo by Henry A. Koshollek, The Capital Times
Polar bear Henry Vilas Zoo, February 11, 1989. Photo by Scott Seid, Wisconsin State Journal
Henry Vilas Zoo, April 15, 1989. Photo by Scott Seid, Wisconsin State Journal
William F. Vilas William Freeman Vilas
Polar bear cubs taken off truck at Henry Vilas Zoo, May 12, 1988. Photo by Meg Theno, The Capital Times
Polar bears Nanuq, left, and Norton at Henry Vilas Zoo, September 27, 1988. Wisconsin State Journal
Elephant Annie, at Vilas Zoo. Photo taken in 1932. WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Henry Vilas Zoo Photo by Ed Stein, Wisconsin State Journal
A herd of whitetail deer was among the earliest exhibits at Vilas Zoo. WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
(Published caption 7/10/97) The stump-tailed macaque and rhesus monkeys attract a crowd Wednesday afternoon at Madison's Vilas Park Zoo.
Henry Vilas Zoo, November 5, 1987 Photo by L. Roger Turner, Wisconsin State Journal
Polar bears Norton, left, and Nanuq at Henry Vilas Zoo, April 15, 1989. Photo by Scott Seid, Wisconsin State Journal
Henry Vilas Zoo, May 20, 1988 Photo by L. Roger Turner, Wisconsin State Journal
Henry Vilas Zoo, May 28, 1987 Photo by A. Craig Benson, Wisconsin State Journal
Polar bears at Henry Vilas Zoo, October 2, 1990. Photo by Carolyn Pflasterer, Wisconsin State Journal
Henry Vilas Zoo, March 1, 1990 Photo by L. Roger Turner, Wisconsin State Journal
One week old raccoon at Henry Vilas Zoo on April 30, 1985. Photo by David Sandell, The Capital Times
Henry Vilas Zoo, October 26, 1985 Photo by Henry A. Koshollek, The Capital Times
Henry Vilas Zoo Photo by Rich Rygh, The Capital Times
Henry Vilas Zoo, June 27, 1984 Photo by Rich Rygh, The Capital Times
Polar bears Aurora, left, and Nanuq at Henry Vilas Zoo, February 12, 1999. Photo by Joseph W. Jackson III, Wisconsin State Journal
(Published caption 1/8/95) Workmen install huge trees in one of three Primate Center ``day'' rooms in which primates will be housed at the Henry Vilas Zoo.
Henry Vilas Zoo, September 24, 1983 The Capital Times
Painting bear dens at Henry Vilas Zoo. Photo by A. Craig Benson, Wisconsin State Journal
Henry Vilas Zoo, May 29, 1988 Wisconsin State Journal
Henry Vilas Zoo, April 12, 1990 Photo by David Sandell, The Capital Times
New bear exhibit under construction at Henry Vilas Zoo, May 11, 1981. Photo by Ed Stein, Wisconsin State Journal
Henry Vilas Zoo, August 17, 1971 Photo by Carmie A. Thompson, The Capital Times
(File photo from 1986) Chief, a 15-year-old, 900-pound polar bear at Henry Vilas Zoo was killed by police in 1988 after he injured a man who climbed into his den.
Henry Vilas Zoo, April 3, 1989 Wisconsin State Journal
Henry Vilas Zoo, January 12, 1992 Photo by Meg Theno, Wisconsin State Journal
Henry Vilas Zoo Photo by David Sandell, The Capital Times
Henry Vilas Zoo Photo by David Sandell, The Capital Times
Polar bear, Sakari, plays in the snow at the Arctic Passage exhibit at the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wis., Saturday, November 21, 2015. AMBER ARNOLD -- State Journal
Henry Vilas Zoo Photo by Mike DeVries, The Capital Times
Henry Vilas Zoo, July 12, 1983 Wisconsin State Journal
(Published caption 2/27/97) Nanuq, one of two polar bears at the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, seemed to sense -- and enjoy -- a change in the Wednesday afternoon air that had forecasters issuing a snow advisory for the overnight hours.
Henry Vilas Zoo, April 13, 1990 The Capital Times
Henry Vilas Zoo, June 8, 1980 The Capital Times
Henry Vilas Zoo, March 18, 1985 Photo by Meg Theno, The Capital Times
Henry Vilas Zoo, August 30, 1989 Photo by L. Roger Turner, Wisconsin State Journal
Henry Vilas Zoo, September 13, 1990 Photo by L. Roger Turner, Wisconsin State Journal
Henry Vilas Zoo Photo by David Sandell, The Capital Times
Henry Vilas Zoo, May 28, 1987 Photo by A. Craig Benson, Wisconsin State Journal
Henry Vilas Zoo, October 20, 1974 Wisconsin State Journal
Henry Vilas Zoo, January 5, 1985 Photo by Meg Theno, The Capital Times
Henry Vilas Zoo, October 23, 1990 Wisconsin State Journal
Henry Vilas Zoo, May 28, 1987 Photo by A. Craig Benson, Wisconsin State Journal
(Published caption 2/4/94) ILLUSTRATION: David Sandell/The Capital Times Not everyone minds the cold weather; in fact, the Vilas Park Zoo polar bears are out frolicking, much to the delight of zoo visitors.
(PUBLISHED 3/9/99) Mishka, a female polar bear at Vilas Zoo, eagerly sniffs the Monday afternoon air. State Journal photo/Schreiner
(Published on 5/17/2015) Alison Prange, executive director of Friends of Henry Vilas Zoo, left, and Stephanie Miller, communications director for Dane County, snap pictures of twin polar bears Sakari and Suka as the bears prepare to plunge into their new 46,500-gallon bear pool in Arctic Passage at Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wis. Monday, May 11, 2015. John Hart -- State Journal
Flamingos on display at Vilas Zoo Thursday June 16, 2005. Steve Apps-State Journal.
Yao and Iris, a pair of Geoffroy’s Marmosets at the Vilas Zoo, carry their twins, born Oct. 17, on their backs Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 14, 2011. Geoffroy’s Marmosets are small primates, indigenous to the rainforests of southeastern Brazil. M.P. King-State Journal
Kristin Moala shows a staff access to the former bear dens at Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wis. Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Kristin Moala shows a staff access to the former bear dens at Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wis. Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Johanna Soto, zoo manager, shows the staff access to the former bear dens at Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wis. Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
In this Series
Complete coverage: The remarkable journey of Nora, Madison's newest polar bear
Nora was abandoned by her mother at 5 days old, and against all odds survived. Now she is at the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, where zookeepers …
