Where was the first YouTube video 'Me at the zoo' filmed?

The first YouTube video, “Me at the zoo,” was filmed at the San Diego Zoo.

Uploaded on April 23, 2005, the roughly 19-second clip shows YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim standing in front of two elephants. He comments briefly on the animals’ unusually long trunks, making the video an intentionally ordinary snapshot rather than a polished production.

Karim’s high-school friend Yakov Lapitsky recorded the footage. The location matters because the video became a symbol of YouTube’s original promise: ordinary people could quickly share simple, personal videos with a broad audience. It was the first video uploaded to the new platform and remains available to watch.

A common mix-up is confusing the filming location with YouTube’s early business locations. The company’s initial headquarters were in San Mateo, California, while “Me at the zoo” was recorded farther south at the San Diego Zoo. The video’s short, informal style also helped establish the user-generated approach that became central to YouTube culture.