Did you know that Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo inspired one of the most popular Christmas stories of all time?
Check out my video to learn about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’s roots in Chicago!
Unlikely Hero
Rudolph was born in Chicago in 1939. Montgomery Ward copywriter Robert May was asked by his boss to write a story for a coloring book the department store could give away at Christmas. They wanted an animal story, and May looked to his daughter Barbara for inspiration. She loved visiting the deer at Lincoln Park Zoo, so May made the hero of his story a misfit reindeer.
A Foggy Night
He considered a few names, but decided that Rudolph “rolled off the tongue nicely.” One winter night, May saw the fog on Lake Michigan and decided that Rudolph would help Santa do his work on just such a night. He met with an artist to sketch the deer at the zoo and Rudolph was born.
Instant Classic
Rudolph was an instant success Ten years later, May’s brother-in-law Johnny Marks wrote the musical version that Gene Autry recorded. It topped the charts and became the second best-selling Christmas song ever. And the Rudolph stop-motion animation film? It’s been broadcast every year since 1946, making it TV’s longest-running Christmas special!
Visiting Lincoln Park Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo is free for all visitors. Lincoln Park is located north of Chicago’s Loop. Several bus routes stop along the west side of the zoo including the CTA 22 Clark, 36 Broadway, 151 Sheridan, and 156 LaSalle routes. To visit by train, take the Red Line to Fullerton station or the Brown and Purple Lines to Armitage station and walk a mile to the zoo. There is a paid parking lot at 2400 N. Cannon Drive as well as paid street parking.
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60614
Sources
- Waxman, Olivia B. “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’s Surprisingly Sad Origins.” Time, Time, 20 Dec. 2018.
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Jessica Mlinaric founded Urban Explorer in 2010 to inspire curious travelers by highlighting history, culture, and hidden gems in Chicago and beyond. She is the author of ‘Secret Chicago’ and ‘Chicago Scavenger.’ Jessica has visited 20+ countries and 30+ U.S. states. She has more than 16 years of experience as a marketing strategist and works as a freelance writer and photographer.
