Seal House

The Seal House was built by the Depression-era corps of Federal employees- the Works Progress Administration. 

The Seal House, originally a shelter for the Zoo’s sea lions, was constructed in 1938 along with a monkey house and an elephant house, as part of a Works Progress Administration project. The stone structure echoes rustic WPA designs built throughout the country during the Great Depression.  You can also find brass WPA badges in many of the sidewalks of the Park today: they were well built!

Before the Roger Williams Park Zoo was incorporated in 1976, captive animals were on display throughout the Park.  The Seal House is the only building for animals that still remains outside of the current Zoo grounds. The Parks Department is currently updating the interior of the building for public interpretation of the Park’s water quality.