The National Aviary bills itself as "America's premier bird zoo," with over 150 species of birds on display and many educational programs about our feathered friends.
While the birds may feel at home here, a century and a half ago there were some humans on site with a different opinion. From 1826 to 1880, this location was home to the Western Penitntiary, the first prison built west of the Appalachians. Charles Dickens visited the penitentiary in March 1842. Among other inmates, the prison housed 118 Confederate soldiers captured during the Civil War. In 1882, a new location for the Western Penitentiary was built along the Ohio River, which remained in service until 2005.
After the Western Penitentiary was closed, the area became a botanical garden. The garden was destroyed by a gas explosion in 1920, then rebuilt in 1952 with the addition of some birds to its indoor exhibits. Over time the birds became the main attraction, and in 1993 Congress officially designated this the National Aviary. Some people believe that the aviary is still haunted by ghosts of the former inmates.