Zoo key
A Zoo Key is a key that activates talking storybook boxes located throughout a zoological garden. The story recordings provide an audio tour of the zoo.
Origin
Talking Storybooks and Magic Keys were first used in Children's Fairyland in Oakland, California. Invented by Bruce Sedley, the original elephant-shaped novelty key was patented in 1960 (patent #188,343),[1] and the story book system was patented in 1962 (patent #3,059,069).[2]
On 26 August 2009, Bruce Sedley – aka the Skipper – and his dapper puppet friend King Fuddle handed out the millionth Magic Key to one golden child on Puppet Day.[3][better source needed]
As of late October 2012, Children's Fairyland began offering pewter and 23k Gold plated pewter Magic Keys as well as the standard plastic Magic Key.[4]
Locations
- Children's Fairyland
- Cincinnati Zoo
- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
- Louisville Zoo
- San Francisco Zoo
- Oregon Zoo[5]
- Philadelphia Zoo
- Detroit Zoo
- Belle Isle Children's Zoo and Aquarium
- Oakland Zoo
Former Locations
Notes
- ^ "Novelty key". Google Patent Search. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
- ^ "Control Means for Electrical Circuits and the Like". Google Patent Search. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
- ^ "Zoo Keys".
- ^ "Children's Fairyland facebook page".
- ^ "ZooKeys". oregonzoo.org. Oregon Zoo. Retrieved 22 October 2010.