In 1871, Betsey Williams bequeathed her 102-acre farm to the City of Providence for public use in memory of her illustrious ancestor, Roger Williams, the founder of Providence. At the time, Providence had little open public space, and there was a growing desire to establish places where people could enjoy nature and escape the daily pressures of urban life.

In 1872, a "menagerie" of small animals and birds was brought to a section of the park so visitors could get a closer look at wildlife. Raccoons, guinea pigs, white mice, squirrels, rabbits, hawks, peacocks and anteaters were on display. This led to the official designation of this portion of Roger Williams Park as a "zoo." Roger Williams Park Zoo was the third zoo to open in the United States.

In the beginning, Roger Williams Park included little more than the present zoo grounds and Betsey's Cottage. Providence acquired land from Cranston and in 1878 approved a comprehensive plan designed by renowned landscape architect, Horace Cleveland. In 1883, massive work projects began to develop the Park as we know it today.

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