Zoos & aquariums in United States

Aquarium of the Bay

Aquarium of the Bay is a public aquarium located at The Embarcadero and Beach Street, at the edge of Pier 39 in San Francisco, California. The aquarium is focused on local aquatic animals from the San Francisco Bay and neighboring rivers and watersheds as far as the Sierra Mountains. Since 2005 the Aquarium has focused its mission on enabling ocean conservation and climate action both locally and globally. It is one of seven institutions under parent company Bay Ecotarium, the largest watershed conservation organization in the Bay Area

1 species

Prospect Park Zoo

Brooklyn

The Prospect Park Zoo is a 12-acre (4.9 ha) zoo located off Flatbush Avenue on the eastern side of Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York City. As of 2016, the zoo houses 864 animals representing about 176 species, and as of 2007, it averaged 300,000 visitors annually. The Prospect Park Zoo is operated by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). In conjunction with the Prospect Park Zoo's operations, the WCS offers children's educational programs, is engaged in restoration of endangered species populations, runs a wildlife theater, and reaches out to the local community through volunteer programs.

Saint Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

Saint Augustine

The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park is one of Florida's oldest continuously running attractions, having opened on May 20, 1893. It has 24 species of crocodilians, and also a variety of other reptiles, mammals and birds, as well as exhibits, animal performances and educational demonstrations.

1 species

1893 opened

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Escondido

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is a zoo and safari park in San Pasqual Valley, in the northern part of the city of San Diego, California, United States. Opened in 1972, the park operates as a sister location to the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park; it features a more specific focus on animals from arid environments.

11 species

1972 opened

Woodland Park Zoo

Woodland Park Zoo is a wildlife conservation organization and zoological garden located in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, United States. The zoo is the recipient of over 65 awards across multiple categories. The zoo has around 900 animals from 250 species and the zoo has over 1 million visitors a year.

7 species

Akron Zoo

The Akron Zoo, officially known as the Akron Zoological Park, is a non-profit zoo located just west of downtown in Akron, Ohio, United States. The zoo sits on 77-acre (31 ha) of which 35-acre (14 ha) are occupied with by habitats, amenities, and support.

5 species

1953 opened

Aquarium of the Pacific

The Aquarium of the Pacific is a public aquarium on a 6-acre (24,000 m2) site on Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach, California, United States. It is situated across the water from the Long Beach Convention Center, Shoreline Village, and the Queen Mary Hotel and Attraction. The location also has its own street, Aquarium Way. It opened on June 20, 1998.

8 species

1998 opened

Louisville Zoo

The Louisville Zoological Gardens, commonly known as the Louisville Zoo, is a 134-acre (54 ha) zoo in Louisville, Kentucky, situated in the city's Poplar Level neighborhood. Founded in 1969, the "State Zoo of Kentucky" currently exhibits over 1,200 animals in naturalistic and mixed animal settings representing both geographical areas and biomes or habitats.

61 species

1969 opened

Oakland Zoo

The Oakland Zoo is located in the Grass Valley neighborhood of Oakland, California, United States. Established on June 6, 1922, it is managed by the Conservation Society of California, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of wildlife both locally and globally. The zoo is home to more than 850 native and exotic animals and is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

44 species

1922 opened

San Francisco Zoo

The San Francisco Zoo and Gardens is a 100-acre (40 ha) zoo located on the West Side of San Francisco, in the southwestern corner of the city between Lake Merced and the Pacific Ocean along the Great Highway. The zoo's main entrance is to the west, on the ocean side. The SF Zoo is owned by the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department, and managed by the San Francisco Zoological Society, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. under a public-private partnership since 1993, receives $4.2 million annually from the city.

13 species

1929 opened

Adventure Aquarium

Camden

The Adventure Aquarium, formerly the Thomas H. Kean New Jersey State Aquarium, is a for-profit educational entertainment attraction operated in Camden, New Jersey on the Delaware River Camden Waterfront by Herschend. Originally opened in 1992, the facility re-opened in its current form on May 25, 2005 featuring about 8,000 animals living in varied forms of semi-aquatic, freshwater, and marine habitats. The facility has a total tank volume of over 2 million US gallons (7,600,000 L), and public floor space of 200,000 square feet (19,000 m2).

5 species

1992 opened

Barrett Park Staten Island Zoo

The Staten Island Zoo is an 8-acre (3.2 ha) urban zoo in West New Brighton, Staten Island, New York City. The zoo is open year-round except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. It has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 1988.

11 species

1936 opened

Birmingham Zoo

The Birmingham Zoo is a zoological park that opened in 1955 in Birmingham, Alabama, United States.

66 species

1955 opened

Chimp Haven

Keithville

Chimp Haven is a non-profit sanctuary for more than 300 chimpanzees retired from laboratory research. The 200-acre (81 ha) sanctuary is located in Eddie D. Jones Nature Park in Keithville, Louisiana, approximately 22 miles (35 km) southwest of Shreveport.

2005 opened

Philadelphia Zoo

The Philadelphia Zoo is a zoo located in the Centennial District of Philadelphia on the west bank of the Schuylkill River. It was the first true zoo in the United States; it was chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on March 21, 1859, but its opening was delayed by the Civil War until July 1, 1874. The zoo opened with 1,000 animals and an admission price of 25 cents. For a brief time, the zoo also housed animals brought to U.S. from safaris by the Smithsonian Institution, which had not yet built its National Zoo.

23 species

1874 opened

Queens Zoo

The Queens Zoo is an 11-acre (4.5 ha) zoo at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York City, between Grand Central Parkway and 111th Street. The zoo is managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Built along with the Queens Zoo is a children's zoo, which was originally called the Heckscher Children's Farm.

7 species

1968 opened

Bayer Insectarium

The Bayer Insectarium is an insectarium located within the Saint Louis Zoo in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Having opened in 2000 and designed by David Mason & Associates with a cost of $4 million, this 9,000 square feet (840 m2) facility houses educational exhibits and an active breeding and research facility. It also includes a window to the exhibits area and two-way communications so visitors may watch entomologists work and ask them questions. The facility even includes a geodesic flight dome cage, which is home to numerous rainforest flowers and butterfly species.

2000 opened

Cameron Park Zoo

Cameron Park Zoo is a 52-acre (21 ha) natural habitat zoo located within Cameron Park in the city of Waco, Texas, United States, next to the Brazos River. Established in July 1993, Cameron Park Zoo has native vegetation that surrounds waterfalls, a lake, and ponds. The zoo features a diverse collection that includes over 1731 animals, representing 300 species from around the world. The zoo keeps a single female African savanna Elephant named Tembo, who was born in the wild in 1977 and arrived in Waco on January 15th, 1979.

1955 opened

Dickerson Park Zoo

Dickerson Park Zoo is a zoological park located in Springfield, Missouri that has more than 500 animals that represent 160 different species. It is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 1986.

1922 opened

Happy Hollow Park and Zoo

San Jose

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo is a small 16-acre (6.5 ha) zoo and amusement park in San Jose, California, which originally opened in 1961. It was closed in 2008 for major renovations, and opened its gates again on March 20, 2010.

1961 opened

International Crane Foundation

The International Crane Foundation (ICF) is a non-profit conservation organization that works to conserve cranes and the ecosystems, watersheds, and flyways on which they depend. Founded in 1973, the International Crane Foundation is headquartered in Baraboo, Wisconsin, on a 250-acre property that includes live crane exhibits with 15 crane species, a visitor center, breeding facilities, a research library and nature trails. The foundation works worldwide and in the US with local partners to raise and conserve cranes. The Foundation has offices in China, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, and South Afri…

1973 opened

Maui Ocean Center

The Maui Ocean Center is an aquarium and oceanography center located in Maalaea, Hawaii, on the island of Maui. Opened on March 13, 1998, by Coral World International, the 3-acre (1.2 ha) facility is the largest living tropical reef aquarium in the Western Hemisphere. Their exhibits include colorful displays of live coral reef habitats, diverse collections of endemic Hawaiian fish species, and up-close viewing of sea turtles, stingrays, sharks, and various sea creatures.

1989 opened

Racine Zoological Gardens

Racine

The Racine Zoological Gardens, or Racine Zoo, is a zoo situated on 32 acres (13 ha) on the shore of Lake Michigan in Racine, Wisconsin. The zoo is operated by the Racine Zoological Society, a non-profit organization. With more than 100 species of animals, the zoo's collection focuses on species native to Wisconsin, including a building dedicated to reptiles and amphibians that are indigenous to the state.

Reid Park Zoo

The Reid Park Zoo, founded in 1967, is a 24-acre (9.7 ha) city-owned and -operated nonprofit zoo located within Reid Park in Tucson, Arizona. The zoo features more than 500 animals. It was unofficially established in 1965 by Gene Reid, the parks and recreation director at the time. The zoo receives approximately 500,000 visitors each year. It is accredited and certified with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.

4 species

1965 opened

Salisbury Zoo

The Salisbury Zoological Park, commonly referred to as the Salisbury Zoo, is a 12-acre (4.9 ha) zoo located on the Delmarva Peninsula in the Salisbury, Maryland city park. The Salisbury Zoo chooses to mainly house species native to North America, South America, and Australia. Its collection of over 100 animals includes wallabies, flamingos, bison, an ocelot, a red wolf, two-toed sloths, alpacas, turtles, macaws, rescued birds of prey and owls. Admission at the Salisbury Zoo is free.

22 species

1954 opened

Seneca Park Zoo

Seneca Park Zoo is a 20-acre zoo located in the city of Rochester, New York, US. The zoo is home to over 90 species including mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish, and arachnids. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The zoo is operated by Monroe County, with support from the Seneca Park Zoo Society. The zoo opened in 1894 in Seneca Park.

1894 opened

Sequoia Park Zoo

The Sequoia Park Zoo is a zoo located in Eureka, California, operated by the City of Eureka. The zoo is part of a larger park complex including 60-acre (24 ha) of mature second-growth coast redwood forest, Eureka's largest public playground, and a duck pond, in addition to formal and natural gardens. The gardens include many varieties of rhododendron. The zoo's mission is "to inspire wonder, understanding and respect for the natural world by providing fun, rewarding, educational experiences that encourage meaningful connections between animals, humans, and our environment". The zoo is open…

4 species

1907 opened

The Living Desert

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, formerly the Living Desert Museum, is a non-profit zoo and desert botanical garden in Palm Desert, in the Colorado Desert, in California in the United States. It is set on 1,200 acres of land, with 80 developed as zoo and gardens, and is home to over 500 animals representing over 150 species and receives over 500,000 visitors annually.

1970 opened

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

Audubon Aquarium is an aquarium in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. After a $41 million dollar renovation that would see the Audubon Insectarium merge with the facility, the aquarium reopened with new exhibits and experiences on June 8, 2023. The Audubon Nature Institute runs the aquarium, and the institute also supervises the Audubon Zoo, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species (ACRES), Coastal Wildlife Network, Audubon Wilderness Park, and Audubon Park. The aquarium is located along the bank…

7 species

1990 opened

Audubon Zoo

Audubon Zoo is an American zoo located in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is part of the Audubon Nature Institute which also manages Audubon Aquarium, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Freeport-McMoran Species Survival Center, Audubon Park, and Audubon Coastal Wildlife Network. It covers 58 acres (23 ha) and is home to over 2,000 animals. It is located in a section of Audubon Park in Uptown New Orleans, on the Mississippi River side of Magazine Street. The zoo and park are named in honor of artist and naturalist John James Audubon who lived in New Orleans starting in 1821.

22 species

1914 opened

Blank Park Zoo

Blank Park Zoo is a 49-acre zoological park on the south side of Des Moines, Iowa, United States, near historic Fort Des Moines. The zoo is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

12 species

1966 opened

Buffalo Zoo

Founded in 1875, the Buffalo Zoo, located at 300 Parkside Ave in Buffalo, New York, is the seventh oldest zoo in the United States. Each year, the Buffalo Zoo welcomes approximately 400,000 visitors and is the second largest tourist attraction in Western New York; second only to Niagara Falls. Located on 23.5 acres (9.5 ha) of Buffalo's Delaware Park, the zoo exhibits a diverse collection of wild and exotic animals, and more than 320 different species of plants. The zoo is open year-round.

2 species

1875 opened

Carolina Tiger Rescue

Carolina Tiger Rescue is a nonprofit wildcat sanctuary in Pittsboro, North Carolina, that offers public tours and field trips and is home to rescued tigers, lions, cougars, leopards, caracals, servals, bobcats and other wild animals. Over 20,000 visitors come to the sanctuary each year for guided tours, field trips, summer camps, volunteering and corporate work groups. Their mission is saving and protecting wild cats in captivity and in the wild. They work toward a day when wild cats are living in their native habitat and are not exploited by humans. Carolina Tiger Rescue is Global Federati…

Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is the second oldest zoo in the United States, founded in 1873 and officially opening in 1875. It is located in the Avondale neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. It originally began with 64.5 acres (26.1 ha) in the middle of the city, but has spread into the neighboring blocks and several reserves in Cincinnati's outer suburbs. Several historic buildings were designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

26 species

1875 opened

30.4 ha

Dallas Zoo

Dallas Zoo is a 106-acre (43 ha) zoo located 3 mi (5 km) south of downtown Dallas, Texas, in Marsalis Park. Established in 1888, it is the oldest and largest zoological park in Texas and is managed by the non-profit Dallas Zoological Society. It is home to over 2,000 animals representing 406 species. It is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).

6 species

1888 opened

Downtown Aquarium

Downtown Aquarium is a for-profit aquarium and restaurant located in Houston, Texas, United States, United States. It is located on a 6-acre (2.4 ha) site at 410 Bagby Street in downtown Houston, developed from two landmarks: Fire Station No. 1 and the Central Waterworks Building. The venue houses over 200 species of aquatic animals in 500,000 US gallons (1,900,000 L) of aquariums. The complex includes two restaurants, a bar, and banquet facilities. It offers programs such as Marine Biologist for a Day, Zoologist for a Day, Sea Safari Camp, overnight stays and more. The education department…

7 species

2003 opened

Elmwood Park Zoo

Elmwood Park Zoo is a zoo located in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

12 species

1924 opened

Fort Wayne Children's Zoo

The Fort Wayne Zoo is a zoo in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States. Since opening in 1965, the 1,000-animal zoo has been located on 40 acres (16 ha) in Fort Wayne's Franke Park. The Fort Wayne Zoo is operated by the non-profit Fort Wayne Zoological Society under a cooperative agreement with the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department. The zoo receives no tax funding for operations and operates solely on earned revenue and donations.

4 species

1965 opened

Key West Aquarium

The Key West Aquarium is the only public aquarium in Key West, Florida, United States. It is located at 1 Whitehead Street and is marked by Historic Marker 52.

1934 opened

Los Angeles Zoo

The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a 133-acre (54 ha) zoo founded in 1966 and located in Los Angeles, California, United States. The city of Los Angeles owns the zoo, its land and facilities, and the animals.

68 species

1966 opened

Montgomery Zoo

Montgomery Zoo is a 40-acre (16 ha) zoo located on the north side of Montgomery, Alabama. The zoo is an independent city department, and is supported in part by The Montgomery Area Zoological Society. It is home to approximately 750 animals representing 140 species. After not renewing their Association of Zoos and Aquariums membership in 2013, the zoo opted to remain accredited solely by the Zoological Association of America. The Mann Wildlife Learning Museum opened in January 2003 and serves as the administration building. The museum features taxidermy displays with a focus on native wildl…

39 species

1935 opened

Potter Park Zoo

The Potter Park Zoo is a 102-acre (41.3 ha) zoo located in Lansing, Michigan, within Lansing's Potter Park. Its mission is to Inspire people to conserve animals in the natural world. Potter Park Zoo is the oldest public zoo in Michigan and is currently home to over 160 species of animals. The zoo is owned by the City of Lansing, and operated by Ingham County. The zoo participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) designed to manage and conserve threatened or endangered animals. The Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine partners wit…

2 species

1915 opened

Roger Williams Park Zoo

Providence

The Roger Williams Park Zoo of Providence, Rhode Island, contains more than 800 animals in natural settings from more than 100 species from around the world. In 1986, the zoo became the first zoo in New England to earn accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Founded in 1872, the zoo is the third oldest zoo in the nation. The zoo and the nearby Carousel Village are some of the main attractions of Roger Williams Park.

9 species

1872 opened

The Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens

The Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens, also known as Zoo Miami, is a zoological park and garden in Miami and is the largest zoo in Florida. Originally established in 1948 at Crandon Park in Key Biscayne, Zoo Miami relocated in 1980 as Miami MetroZoo to the former location of the Naval Air Station Richmond, southwest of Miami in southern unincorporated Miami-Dade County, surrounded by the census-designated places of Three Lakes (north), South Miami Heights (south), Palmetto Estates (east) and Richmond West (west).

52 species

1948 opened

West Virginia Wildlife Center

The West Virginia State Wildlife Center is a zoological park in French Creek, West Virginia. Operated by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, the Wildlife Center displays many of West Virginia's wildlife, including both native and introduced species. A few of the animals at the Wildlife Center were once found naturally in West Virginia, but were extirpated by the early 1900s.

Zoo Atlanta

Zoo Atlanta is an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoo in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The current president and CEO of Zoo Atlanta is Raymond B. King.

30 species

1889 opened

Breazeale Interpretive Center

Mount Vernon

Buttonwood Park Zoo

The Buttonwood Park Zoo, located in New Bedford, Massachusetts, is a zoo located in the center of Buttonwood Park. Opened in 1894, it is the third-oldest zoo in New England and the 12th-oldest zoo in the United States. Located on a 7 acres (2.8 ha) campus, the zoo is owned and operated by the City of New Bedford, with the support of the Buttonwood Park Zoological Society. It is located on part of the Buttonwood Park Historic District, and federally designated on the National Register of Historic Places.

Cohanzick Zoo

Cohanzick Zoo is a zoo in Bridgeton, New Jersey. Opened in 1934, it bills itself as New Jersey's first zoo. It houses over 100 animals, representing 45 species. Part of the city's Department of Recreation and Public Affairs, it is also supported by the Cumberland County government and donations. The zoo has an "adopt-an-animal" program to sponsor animal welfare.

10 species

1934 opened

Duke Lemur Center

Florida Aquarium

The Florida Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, publicly operated institution located in downtown Tampa, Florida, United States. It is a large scale, 250,000-square-foot (23,000 m2) aquarium and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This means they are a leader in conservation and education, supporting programs for wildlife and having a strong educational component in the forms of summer camps, school trips, etc. The facility is home to more than 7,000 aquatic plants and animals from Florida and all over the world. The facility is located in the Channel Distri…

1995 opened

Franklin Park Zoo

The Franklin Park Zoo is a 72-acre (290,000 m2) zoo located in Boston, Massachusetts. It is currently operated by Zoo New England, which also operates the Stone Zoo in Stoneham, Massachusetts. The zoo is located in the northeast portion of Franklin Park, Boston's largest park and the last component of the city's famed Emerald Necklace.

1912 opened

Greater Cleveland Aquarium

The Greater Cleveland Aquarium is an aquarium in Cleveland, Ohio. Occupying the historic FirstEnergy Powerhouse building located on the west bank of the Cuyahoga River in the city's Flats district, the aquarium, which opened in January 2012, consists of approximately 70,000 square feet (6,500 m2) of exhibition space and features 55 exhibits over 9 thematic concentrations representing both local and exotic species of fish. The facility is the only independent, free-standing aquarium in the state of Ohio and ended a 26-year period that the city lacked a public aquarium.

2012 opened

Jackson Zoological Park

The Jackson Zoo is a zoo that was established in 1919 in Jackson, Mississippi and exhibits over 120 species and approximately 250 individual animals, providing the public the opportunity to observe and study wildlife from around the world and region. The Jackson Zoo is in the historic 110-acre (0.45 km2) Livingston Park and welcomes approximately 85,000 visitors annually from Mississippi and surrounding states. 20,000 school children make their way to the zoo throughout the school year.

1919 opened

Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory

The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory located at 1316 Duval Street, Key West, Florida, United States is a butterfly park that houses from 50 to 60 different species of live butterflies from around the world in a climate-controlled, glass-enclosed habitat.

Lehigh Valley Zoo

The Lehigh Valley Zoo is a 29-acre (11.7 ha) zoo located in Schnecksville in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. It is located inside the 1,100-acre (445 ha) Trexler Nature Preserve. The zoo is open year-round.

1974 opened

Long Island Game Farm

The Long Island Game Farm, situated at 489 Chapman Boulevard in Manorville, New York, was established in 1970 by Stanley and Diane Novak. The park is now home to bison, camels, zebras, deer, goats, lambs, lemurs, wallabies, foxes, capybaras, and exotic birds, which also include various education areas and entertainment.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey, CA

Monterey Bay Aquarium is a nonprofit public aquarium in Monterey, California, United States. Known for its regional focus on the marine habitats of Monterey Bay, it was the first to exhibit a living kelp forest when it opened in October 1984. Its biologists have pioneered the animal husbandry of jellyfish and it was the first to successfully care for and display a great white shark. The organization's research and conservation efforts also focus on sea otters, various birds, and tunas. Seafood Watch, a sustainable seafood advisory list published by the aquarium beginning in 1999, has influe…

18 species

1984 opened

San Diego Zoo

San Diego, CA

The San Diego Zoo is a zoo in San Diego, California, United States, located in Balboa Park. It began with a collection of animals left over from the 1915 Panama–California Exposition that were brought together by its founder, Dr. Harry M. Wegeforth. The zoo was a pioneer in the concept of open-air, cage-less exhibits that recreate natural animal habitats.

78 species

1916 opened

40 ha

Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens

Santa Barbara, CA

The Santa Barbara Zoo is located on 30 acres (12 ha) near the ocean in Santa Barbara, California. It was built on the site of what was known as the Child Estate. It has more than 500 animals in numerous exhibits, including capybara and California condors, and was known for having had a giraffe with a crooked neck. It has a few non-animal attractions, such as the 2 ft narrow gauge Zoo Train, complete with a pair of Chance Rides C. P. Huntington locomotives. The zoo first opened in August 1963.

54 species

1963 opened

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

San Pedro, CA

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is a public aquarium in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The aquarium interprets both the physical processes of oceanography and marine biology of Southern California by use of displays and educational programs for the public. The aquarium is operated by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.

1941 opened

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center

Santa Barbara, CA

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center, briefly known as the Ty Warner Sea Center, is a museum owned and operated by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and is located on Santa Barbara's Stearns Wharf. The Sea Center focuses on the marine life and the related conservation of the Santa Barbara Channel.

Birch Aquarium

San Diego, CA

Birch Aquarium is a public aquarium in La Jolla, a community of San Diego, California. It serves as the public outreach center for Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, with over half a million people visiting the aquarium each year.

Charles Paddock Zoo

Atascadero, CA

The Central Coast Zoo is a five-acre (2.0 ha) community zoo located in San Luis Obispo County, California, in the City of Atascadero on the Central Coast. It was home to an endangered male Malayan tiger named Menderu, who died in 2025.

21 species

1955 opened

Fresno Chaffee Zoo

Fresno, CA

The Fresno Chaffee Zoo is a zoo in Roeding Park in Fresno, California covering 39 acres and housing over 190 species. Its attractions include Stingray Bay, Dino Dig, Valley Farm, Sea Lion Cove, African Adventure, and Ross Laird's Winged Wonders Bird Show. The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).

16 species

1929 opened

Orange County Zoo

Orange, CA

The Orange County Zoo is a small 8-acre (3.2 ha) zoo located within the 477-acre (193 ha) Irvine Regional Park in the city of Orange, California, United States. The zoo is mainly home to animals and plants that are native to the Southwestern United States.

3 species

1985 opened

Sacramento Zoo

Sacramento, CA

The Sacramento Zoo is a zoo located in William Land Park in Sacramento, California, United States. It opened on June 2, 1927, with 40 animals and occupied 4.2 acres (1.7 ha). In the early 1960s, the zoo expanded to a 14.3-acre site (5.8 ha). As of December 2012, the zoo had just over 500 animals on site.

36 species

1927 opened

Safari West

Sant Rosa, CA

Safari West is a 400-acre wildlife preserve located 12 miles north of the city of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, California, United States. Founded in 1993 by Peter Lang and Nancy Lang, the preserve is home to hundreds of animals representing numerous species, with a focus on African wildlife. Safari West offers guided safari tours and overnight accommodations, and emphasizes research, education and conservation. In 2026, the organization began transitioning toward nonprofit stewardship through the Safari West Zoological Society, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation.

Big Bear Alpine Zoo

Big Bear Lake, CA

The Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a zoo in Big Bear Lake, California, United States. It is one of two Alpine zoos in the United States. It specializes in the rehabilitation and release of local Alpine species and also has a permanent collection of animals in the zoo. It is located across the street from Bear Mountain Ski Resort.

13 species

1959 opened

Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park

Santa Ana, CA

The Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park in Santa Ana, California, is a 20-acre (8.1 ha) zoo focusing on the animals and plants of Central and South America. The Santa Ana Zoo hosts more than 270,000 people annually. The zoo opened Saturday March 8, 1952 and is owned and operated by the City of Santa Ana. Joseph Prentice donated land for the zoo with the stipulation that the city must keep at least 50 monkeys at all times. The zoo maintains an extensive primate collection with over a dozen species from around the world.

25 species

1952 opened

Aquatic Zoo Tropical Fish

Thousand Oaks, CA

Dallas World Aquarium

Dallas, TX

The Dallas World Aquarium is a for-profit aquarium and zoo located in the West End Historic District of Dallas, Texas, USA. It aids conservation and education by housing many animals that are threatened or endangered as part of a cooperative breeding program with other zoos around the world. It has been an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1997 and is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

24 species

1992 opened

Texas State Aquarium

Corpus Christi, TX

The Texas State Aquarium is a nonprofit aquarium located in Corpus Christi, Texas, United States. The aquarium aims to promote environmental conservation and rehabilitation of the wildlife of the Gulf of Mexico and has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 1995. Currently the largest aquarium in Texas and also one of the largest aquaria in the United States.

7 species

1990 opened

Houston Zoo

Houston, TX

The Houston Zoo is a 55-acre (22 ha) zoological park located within Hermann Park in Houston, Texas, United States. The zoo opened in 1922 as a park attraction housing 40 animals. In 2026 it housed around 4300 animals, and as of 2024 the collections included representatives of 575 species. The zoo had 2 million visitors in 2024.

46 species

1922 opened

San Antonio Zoo

San Antonio, TX

The San Antonio Zoo is a 57-acre (23 ha) zoo located in Brackenridge Park in San Antonio, Texas, United States. It is home to over 750 species, some of which are endangered or extinct in the wild, and has an annual attendance of more than 1 million. The zoo also hosts the Richard Friedrich Aquarium, which opened in 1948. It was the only aquarium in the city until SeaWorld San Antonio opened in 1988. It also runs non-animal attractions, such as the San Antonio Zoo Train, which first opened in 1956.

4 species

1914 opened

SEA LIFE Aquarium

Grapevine, TX

Sea Life Grapevine is an interactive aquarium located at Grapevine Mills in Grapevine, Texas. The aquarium contains thousands of aquatic creatures, plus interactive touch pools and a 360° ocean tunnel. Sea Life Grapevine is owned and operated by Merlin Entertainments.

Caldwell Zoo

Tyler, TX

The Caldwell Zoo is an 85-acre (34 ha) zoo located in the city of Tyler, Texas. It features animals from all over the world. The Caldwell Zoo is a zoological park that aims to educate the public and cultivate an appreciation for wildlife. Established over 70 years ago, it exhibits a collection of animal species from around the world.

36 species

1953 opened

Fort Worth Zoo

Fort Worth, TX

The Fort Worth Zoo is a zoo in Fort Worth, Texas, United States, and is home to 7,000 native and exotic animals. It has been named as a top zoo in the nation by Family Life magazine, the Los Angeles Times and USA Today, as well as one of the top zoos in the South by Southern Living Reader's Choice Awards.

14 species

1909 opened

30.8 ha

Ellen Trout Zoo

Lufkin, TX

The Ellen Trout Zoo is a small zoo founded by Walter Trout in 1967 and located in Lufkin, Texas, United States. The zoo gets about 150,000 visitors a year. It is currently owned and operated by the City of Lufkin, with Friends of Ellen Trout Zoo (F.O.E.T.Z.) supporting it with funding for major expansion and renovation projects in the Zoo's master plan.

1967 opened

Gladys Porter Zoo

Brownsville, TX

Gladys Porter Zoo is a zoological and botanical park located in Brownsville, Texas, United States. The zoo officially opened on September 3, 1971, and currently averages over 424,000 visitors annually. Situated on 31 acres (13 ha), the zoo houses about 400 animal species and over 250 tropical and neo-tropical species and subspecies. It is the first zoo to have successfully bred the endangered Jentink's duiker. It is also the birthplace of Harambe, the gorilla.

22 species

1971 opened

National Butterfly Center

Mission, TX

Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center

Laredo, TX

Austin Zoo

Austin, TX

Brevard Zoo

Melbourne, FL

The Brevard Zoo is a nonprofit zoological organization accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and is located on 75-acres of land in Melbourne, Florida.

57 species

1994 opened

Gulf Breeze Zoo

Gulf Breeze, FL

The Gulf Breeze Zoo is a 50-acre (20 ha) zoo located in Woodlawn Beach, Florida, neighboring Navarre and Gulf Breeze, Florida. It has over 900 exotic animals including rhinos, hippos, Western lowland gorillas, and orangutans that visitors can view during an African preserve train ride. Activities include hand-feeding of some animals including giraffes. The Gulf Breeze Zoo supports captive breeding, wildlife conservation, and habitat preservation programs.

1978 opened

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

Jacksonville, FL

The Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens is located at the mouth of the Trout River, near where it flows into the St. Johns River, in Jacksonville, Florida. The zoo occupies approximately 122 acres (49 ha) and has over 2,000 animals and 1,000 plant species in its collection. The zoo has grown from a small collection in Springfield into one of the city's premier attractions, with more than one million visits annually.

13 species

1914 opened

SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium

Orlando, FL

Sunken Gardens

Saint Petersburg, FL

Big Cat Rescue

Tampa, FL

Gulf Specimen Public Aquarium

Panacea, FL

Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society

West Palm Beach, FL

The Palm Beach Zoo is a zoo located at Dreher Park in West Palm Beach Florida. The zoo houses hundreds of animals, many of them endangered, within 23-acres of lush tropical habitat. The Palm Beach Zoo is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

27 species

1957 opened

Daytona Aquarium & Rainforest Adventure

Daytona Beach, FL

Detroit Zoo

Royal Oak, MI

The Detroit Zoo is a zoo located in the cities of Huntington Woods and Royal Oak in the U.S. state of Michigan. Spanning 125 acres (50.6 ha), it is home to more than 2,000 animals and more than 200 different species. The zoo was the first U.S. zoo to feature bar-less habitats, and is regarded to be an international leader in animal welfare, conservation and sustainability by the Detroit Zoological Society. The zoo is owned by the City of Detroit and has been operated since its opening by the Detroit Zoological Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

20 species

1928 opened

50.6 ha

Belle Isle Aquarium

Detroit, MI

The Belle Isle Aquarium is a public aquarium located in Belle Isle Park in Detroit, Michigan. Designed by noted architects George D. Mason and Albert Kahn, it opened on August 18, 1904, and was the oldest continually operating public aquarium in North America when it closed on April 3, 2005. The aquarium was operated by the Detroit Zoological Society prior to the 2005 closure.

1904 opened

56k visitors/yr

Binder Park Zoo

Battle Creek, MI

The Binder Park Zoo is a 433-acre (175 ha) zoo that opened in 1977 near Battle Creek, Michigan, in the United States. Binder Park Zoo is one of the largest zoos in Michigan, and features a large array of animals and plants, including the Wild Africa Exhibit. It includes a train, a tram, a carousel, and ropes course called "Skylark Ridge".

1977 opened

DeYoung Family Zoo

Wallace, MI

The DeYoung Family Zoo is a zoo that opened to the public in 1990, open yearly from May until the end of October. It is located in Wallace, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, United States, about 15 miles (24 km) north of Menominee. The zoo is owned by Bud DeYoung and Carrie Cramer. The facility has many exotic felines, and provides visitor interactions, as well as baby animals to pet and bottle feed.

1990 opened

Garlyn Zoo

Naubinway, MI

Mackinac County is a county in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,834. The county seat is St. Ignace. Formerly known as Michilimackinac County, in 1818 it was one of the first counties of the Michigan Territory, as it had long been a center of French and British colonial fur trading, a Catholic church and Protestant mission, and associated settlement. The county's name is shortened from "Michilimackinac", which referred to the Straits of Mackinac area as well as the French settlement at the tip of the lower peninsula. Mackinac Cou…

1994 opened

Belle Isle Nature Center

Detroit, MI

Children's Zoo at Celebration Square

Saginaw, MI

Lincoln Park Zoo

Chicago, IL

Lincoln Park Zoo, also known as Lincoln Park Zoological Gardens, is a 35-acre (14 ha) zoo in Lincoln Park in Chicago, Illinois. The zoo was founded in 1868 and is one of the oldest zoos in the United States. It is also one of a small number of zoos to offer free admission. The zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). In 2019 it also became an accredited arboretum.

1868 opened

Shedd Aquarium

Chicago, IL

Shedd Aquarium is a public aquarium in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is one of the oldest continually operating non-governmental aquariums in the U.S.

8 species

1930 opened

1.9M visitors/yr

Brookfield Zoo Chicago

Brookfield, IL

Brookfield Zoo Chicago, known until 2024 as simply Brookfield Zoo, and also known as the Chicago Zoological Park, is a zoo located in Brookfield, Illinois. Brookfield Zoo is owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and is managed by the Chicago Zoological Society. It is the largest zoo in the Chicago metropolitan area and houses approximately 511 species of animals in an area of 216 acres (87 ha).

2 species

1934 opened

Henson Robinson Zoo

Springfield, IL

The Henson Robinson Zoo is a private nonprofit zoo owned and operated by the Springfield Park District. The zoo was built in 1968–1970 on the eastern shore of Lake Springfield to serve the population of Central Illinois, and opened in 1970. As of 2018, the zoo housed more than 300 animal specimens representing more than 80 species. The zoo charges an admission fee.

Miller Park Zoo

Bloomington, IL

Miller Park Zoo is a zoo located in Miller Park, a public park in Bloomington, Illinois, United States. It is administered by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Bloomington.

Bronx Zoo

Bronx, NY

The Bronx Zoo is a zoo within Bronx Park in the Bronx, New York City. It is one of the largest zoos in the United States by area and the largest metropolitan zoo, comprising 265 acres (107 ha) of park lands and naturalistic habitats separated by the Bronx River. The zoo has 2.1 million average yearly visitors as of 2009. The zoo's original buildings, known as Astor Court, were designed as a series of Beaux-Arts pavilions grouped around the large circular sea lion pool. The Rainey Memorial Gates were designed by sculptor Paul Manship in 1934 and listed on the National Register of Historic Pl…

11 species

1899 opened

107 ha

Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park

Syracuse, NY

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park is an AZA zoo in Syracuse, New York. It is owned and operated by Onondaga County Parks with support from the Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. The zoo is home to more than 1300 animals representing nearly 300 species on 43 acres (17 ha). Some of the more popular animals include Asian elephants, Humboldt penguins, Amur tigers, and a Komodo dragon. The zoo opened a new Animal Health Center in 2022 that is the largest zoological medical center in New York state outside of the Bronx Zoo.

11 species

New York Aquarium

Brooklyn, NY

The New York Aquarium is the oldest continually operating aquarium in the United States, located on the Riegelmann Boardwalk in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City. It was founded at Castle Garden in Battery Park, Manhattan, in 1896, and moved to Coney Island in 1957. The aquarium is operated by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) as part of its integrated system of four zoos and one aquarium, most notably the Bronx Zoo. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). As part of WCS, the aquarium's mission is to save wildlife and wild places worldwide through science,…

3 species

1896 opened

Utica Zoo

Utica, NY

Utica Zoo is a regional zoo in Utica, New York, situated in a section of Roscoe Conkling Park. It consists of a mixture of outdoor and indoor animal enclosures, a petting zoo, nature trails, and other amenities.

Aquarium of Niagara

Niagara Falls, NY

The Aquarium of Niagara is a non-profit public aquarium in Niagara Falls, New York dedicated to education and conservation of aquatic life. Founded as a private company by a group of researchers and chemists as a test site for a groundbreaking formula for artificial seawater, the Aquarium opened as "The Aquarium of Niagara Falls" on June 12, 1965 as the first inland aquarium in the world to exclusively use this new technology to maintain thriving marine exhibits. Ownership was transferred to a non-profit foundation, the Sea Research Foundation, in September 1977, and then to the Niagara Aqu…

Metro Richmond Zoo

Moseley, VA

Metro Richmond Zoo is a privately owned, for-profit zoo in Chesterfield County, Virginia. It is located in the central Virginia area, off of U.S. Route 360, about 20 miles southwest of Richmond. Metro Richmond Zoo encompasses about 70 acres (28 ha) and houses around 2,000 animals representing over 190 species, including reticulated giraffe, white rhinoceros, snow leopard, cheetah and Grant's zebra.

33 species

1995 opened

Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Centers

Virginia Beach, VA

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, formerly known as the Virginia Marine Science Museum, is an aquarium and marine science museum located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, just south of Rudee Inlet. The exhibits at the museum are contained in over 800,000 US gallons (3,028,000 L) of fresh and saltwater displays.

2009 opened

Virginia Zoological Park

Norfolk, VA

The Virginia Zoological Park, commonly known as the Virginia Zoo, is a 53-acre (21 ha) zoo located adjacent to Lafayette Park in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. The zoo opened in 1900, and was accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in 1987.

36 species

1900 opened

Hill City AquaZoo

Lynchburg, VA

Leesburg Animal Park

Leesburg, VA

World Wildlife Zoo

Litchfield Park, AZ

Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium is a 215-acre (87 ha) zoo and aquarium in Litchfield Park, Arizona, United States, near Phoenix. The zoo specializes in African and South American animals, and has Arizona's largest collection of exotic animals. It has a 0.6 miles (970 m) "safari train", a boat ride through the Australian habitat, a tram through another segment of the African habitat, and several amusement-oriented rides. Since 2008, it also has an aquarium with a total tank volume of 180,000 US gallons (681,000 L).

1984 opened

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Tucson, AZ

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a 98-acre zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, natural history museum, publisher, and art gallery founded in 1952. Located just west of Tucson, Arizona, it features two miles (3.2 km) of walking paths traversing 21 acres of desert landscape. It is one of the most visited attractions in Southern Arizona.

1952 opened

Phoenix Zoo

Phoenix, AZ

The Phoenix Zoo opened in 1962 and is the largest privately owned nonprofit zoo in the United States. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the zoo was founded by Robert Maytag, a member of the Maytag family, and operates on 125 acres (51 ha) of land in the Papago Park area of Phoenix. It has been designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride.

21 species

1962 opened

Bearizona Wildlife Park

Williams, AZ

Downtown Aquarium

Denver, CO

Downtown Aquarium is a for profit aquarium and restaurant located in Denver, Colorado, United States, at the intersection of I-25 and 23rd Ave. The 107,000 square feet (9,900 m2) main building sits on a 17-acre (6.9 ha) site adjacent to the South Platte River. Its freshwater and marine aquaria total approximately 1,000,000 US gallons (3,785,000 L), and exhibit a variety of fish and other animals.

6 species

1999 opened

Denver Zoo

Denver, CO

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance is an 80-acre (32 ha) nonprofit zoological garden and conservation organization located in City Park of Denver, Colorado, United States. Founded in 1896, it is operated by the Denver Zoological Foundation and funded in part by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Its other sources of funding are ticket sales and private donations. It is the most visited paid attraction in Denver.

39 species

1896 opened

1.6M visitors/yr

Pueblo Zoo

Pueblo, CO

Pueblo Zoo is a 25-acre (10.1 ha) zoo located in Pueblo, Colorado in the United States. The zoo is open year-round and is home to over 420 animals of more than 140 species. The Pueblo Zoological Society manages the zoo, which is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The original core of the zoo was built in 1933–1940 by the Public Works Administration, Civilian Conservation Corps, and Works Progress Administration and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Pueblo City Park Zoo.

1933 opened

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

CO

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a zoological park located southwest of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Cheyenne Mountain in the United States. At an elevation of 6,714 feet (2,046 m) above sea level, it is the highest zoo in the country. The zoo covers 140 acres (57 ha), 40 of which are in use. The zoo houses more than 750 animals, representing nearly 170 different species, with more than 30 endangered species. The zoo was ranked the #2 best zoo in North America in 2025 by USA Today. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

69 species

1926 opened

Sedgwick County Zoo

Wichita, KS

The Sedgwick County Zoo is an AZA-accredited wildlife park and major attraction in Wichita, Kansas, United States. Founded in 1971, with the help of the Sedgwick County Zoological Society, the zoo has quickly become recognized both nationally and internationally for its support of conservation programs and successful breeding of rare and endangered species. Housing over 3,000 animals of nearly 400 species, it is the 13th largest zoo in the United States in both number of species and total animals, and 7th largest in total area. The zoo has slowly increased its visitors and now ranks as the…

6 species

1971 opened

Topeka Zoo

Topeka, KS

The Topeka Zoo is a medium-sized zoo in Topeka, Kansas in the United States. It is located within Gage Park, just off I-70 in the north central portion of the city. Despite its size, it houses over 300 animals in a number of exhibits, including one of the first indoor tropical rain forests in the United States. It is one of the most popular attractions in Topeka, with over 250,000 visitors a year.

42 species

1933 opened

Lee Richardson Zoo

KS

The Lee Richardson Zoo is an AZA accredited zoo in Garden City, Kansas. The zoo has more than 80 species of animals located on 47 acres (19 ha) inside Finnup Park and includes many animals that are non-native to southwest Kansas. Admission is free for pedestrians or $20 per car.

Hutchinson Zoo

Hutchinson, KS

New England Aquarium

Boston, MA

The New England Aquarium is a nonprofit organization and public aquarium located in Boston, Massachusetts. The species exhibited include harbor and northern fur seals, California sea lions, African and southern rockhopper penguins, giant Pacific octopuses, loggerhead and green sea turtles, and thousands of saltwater and freshwater fishes. In addition to the main aquarium building, attractions at Central Wharf include the Simons Theatre and the New England Aquarium Whale Watch. More than 1.3 million guests visited the aquarium each year prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

15 species

1969 opened

Maria Mitchell Aquarium

Nantucket, MA

The Maria Mitchell Association Aquarium, also known as the Nantucket Aquarium, is a small, local, seasonal aquarium in Nantucket, Massachusetts. It serves as the island's only marine science center and resource. The aquarium is one of the many resources offered by the Maria Mitchell Association, a local non-profit organization that promotes scientific education and research in service to the legacy of Maria Mitchell (1818–1889), America's first female astronomer and Nantucket native.

1997 opened

Capron Park Zoo

Attleboro, MA

The Capron Park Zoo is a small 8-acre (3.2 ha) zoo that opened in 1937 in Attleboro, Massachusetts, United States. It is home to about 100 animals representing 44 species and is an accredited member of both the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Association of Zoo and Aquarium Docents (AZAD). It participates in the Species Survival Plan program.

1937 opened

Stone Zoo

Stoneham, MA

Stone Zoo is a medium- to small-sized zoo of about 26 acres (11 ha) in Stoneham, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1905, the zoo includes low-lying areas densely developed with smaller exhibits for animals as well as rocky forested hillsides devoted to larger habitats for Species Survival Plan programs. It is operated by the Commonwealth Zoological Corporation, doing business as Zoo New England, which also operates the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston.

1905 opened

Toledo Zoo

Toledo, OH

The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium, located in Toledo, Ohio is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium, rated the top zoo in the country, houses over 10,000 individual animals from 720 species and participates in around 80 species survival programs.

13 species

1900 opened

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Cleveland, OH

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is a 183-acre (74 ha) zoo in Cleveland, Ohio. The Zoo is divided into several areas: Australian Adventure; African Savanna; Northern Wilderness Trek, The Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building, Waterfowl Lake, The RainForest, Asian Highlands, and the newly added Susie's Bear Hollow. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has one of the largest collections of primates in North America. The Zoo is a part of the Cleveland Metroparks system.

33 species

1882 opened

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Powell, OH

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a non-profit zoo located near Powell in Liberty Township, Delaware County, Ohio, United States, north of the city of Columbus. The land lies along the eastern banks of the O'Shaughnessy Reservoir on the Scioto River, at the intersection of Riverside Drive and Powell Road. It has a worldwide reputation, largely attributable to the efforts and promotion of director emeritus Jack Hanna. In 2009, it was named by the USA Travel Guide as the number one zoo in the United States. It was also ranked number one best zoo in 2012 by Besties Readers Choice.

1927 opened

The Wilds

Cumberland, OH

The Wilds is a private, non-profit safari park and conservation center located in southeastern Muskingum County, Ohio, just west of Cumberland. The park combines conservation science and education programs, and also offers visitors leisure activities such as ziplining, horseback riding, and fishing.

1994 opened

Riverbanks Zoo

Columbia, SC

The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is a 170-acre (69 ha) zoo, aquarium, and botanical garden located along the Saluda River in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. A small portion of the zoo extends into the nearby city of West Columbia. It is operated by the Rich-Lex Riverbanks Park Special Purpose District, a partnership of the city of Columbia and Richland and Lexington counties. It is overseen by the Riverbanks Park Commission, comprising two members each from the three governments and one at-large member.

26 species

1974 opened

Greenville Zoo

Greenville, SC

The Greenville Zoo is a zoo in Greenville, South Carolina, which opened in 1960.

9 species

1960 opened

South Carolina Aquarium

Charleston, SC

The South Carolina Aquarium, located in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, opened on May 19, 2000. Located on the historic Charleston Harbor, visitors can enjoy views of the waterfront, including the USS Yorktown and Ravenel Bridge. The Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). More than 5,000 animals reside in dozens of exhibits spanning two stories. The largest exhibit, the Great Ocean Tank, holds 385,000 US gallons and stands at 42 feet deep, making it the deepest tank in North America. Additional experiences includ…

3 species

2000 opened

Edisto Island Serpentarium

Edisto Island, SC

Maritime Aquarium

South Norwalk, CT

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is an aquarium located in the South Norwalk section of Norwalk, Connecticut.

3 species

1988 opened

Beardsley Zoological Gardens

Bridgeport, CT

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, is the only Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)–accredited zoo in the state of Connecticut. The zoo includes one of the few carousels in the state. The zoo has around 500 animals, from over 100 species, and welcomes about 280,000 visitors a year.

4 species

1922 opened

Mystic Aquarium

CT

Mystic Aquarium is a marine aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut. It is one of only three U.S. facilities holding Steller sea lions, and it has the only beluga whales in New England. Special exhibits include the largest outdoor beluga whale habitat in the United States, a ray and shark touch pool, an African penguin exhibit, a jelly gallery, and the new Dino Seas: An Immersive Journey exhibit. The aquarium is a member of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA) and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). It is a subsidiary of the Sea Research Foun…

7 species

1973 opened

Indianapolis Zoo

Indianapolis, IN

The Indianapolis Zoo is a 93-acre (38 ha) non-profit zoo, public aquarium, and botanical garden in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Incorporated in 1944, the Indianapolis Zoological Society established the first zoo at George Washington Park in 1964. The current zoo opened in 1988 at White River State Park near downtown Indianapolis. It is among the largest privately funded zoos in the U.S.

7 species

1964 opened

Washington Park Zoo

Michigan City, IN

The Washington Park Zoo is a zoo located in Washington Park, Michigan City, Indiana, which covers 15 acres (61,000 m2) on a hilly sand dune close to the southeastern tip of Lake Michigan. The park and zoo were listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

Potawatomi Zoo

South Bend, IN

The Potawatomi Zoo is a 23-acre (9.3 ha) zoological park located in South Bend, Indiana, United States. The zoo is nestled in Potawatomi Park between the St. Joseph River and the Grand Trunk railroad in the east side neighborhood of River Park. Founded in 1921, it is one of Indiana's oldest zoos. It features over 400 animals and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The zoo has over 300,000 visitors each year.

Red River Zoo

Fargo, ND

The Red River Zoo is a zoo in Fargo, North Dakota. The zoo's first 8 acres (3.2 ha) opened in the spring of 1999. It gained accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in 2006.

1999 opened

Dakota Zoo

Bismarck, ND

The Dakota Zoo is a zoo in Bismarck, North Dakota located on the banks of the Missouri River. It is the third zoo built in North Dakota. The Dakota Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

32 species

1961 opened

Roosevelt Park Zoo

Minot, ND

The Roosevelt Park Zoo is a zoo in Minot, North Dakota. It is the oldest zoo in North Dakota.

1920 opened

Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

Omaha, NE

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is a zoo in Omaha, Nebraska. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In August 2014, TripAdvisor rated it the "world's best zoo", ahead of the San Diego Zoo and Loro Parque, based on an algorithmic assimilation of millions of reviews for 275 major zoos worldwide.

19 species

1894 opened

Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park & Wildlife Safari

Ashland, NE

The Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park is a 440 acre drive-through wildlife park located near the town of Ashland, Nebraska, United States. The Park includes scenic prairies and wetlands that feature dozens of native North American animals including bison, elk, cranes and new Wolf Canyon overlook along with tram rides and a visitor center. The park is affiliated with Henry Doorly Zoo, and is located 22 miles west at Nebraska's I-80 exit 426.

Lincoln Chidren's Zoo

Lincoln, NE

The Lincoln Children's Zoo is a children's zoo located in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. Designed specifically for children to experience interactive, up-close encounters with all of the zoo's animals, Lincoln Children's Zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

1965 opened

Oregon Coast Aquarium

Newport, OR

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is an aquarium in Newport in the U.S. state of Oregon. Opened in 1992, the facility sits on 23 acres (9.3 ha) along Yaquina Bay near the Pacific Ocean. The aquarium was home to Keiko, the orca who starred in the movie Free Willy, from January 7, 1996, until September 9, 1998, when he was shipped to Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland. USA Today considers the Oregon Coast Aquarium world-class and Coastal Living magazine ranks it among the top ten aquariums in North America.

6 species

1992 opened

Oregon Zoo

Portland, OR

The Oregon Zoo, originally the Portland Zoo and later the Washington Park Zoo, is a zoo in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is located in Washington Park, approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest of downtown Portland. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest zoo west of the Mississippi River.

11 species

1888 opened

Seaside Aquarium

Seaside, OR

The Seaside Aquarium is a privately owned aquarium in Seaside, Oregon, United States. It is one of the oldest aquariums on the West Coast.

1937 opened

Tennessee Aquarium

Chattanooga, TN

The Tennessee Aquarium is a non-profit public aquarium located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States. It opened in 1992 on the banks of the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga, with a major expansion added in 2005. The aquarium, which has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 1993, is home to more than 12,000 animals representing almost 800 species.

2 species

1992 opened

Memphis Zoo

Memphis, TN

The Memphis Zoo is a zoo in Midtown, Memphis, Tennessee, United States. It is home to more than 3,500 animals representing over 500 different species. Created in April 1906, the zoo has been a major tenant of Overton Park for more than 100 years. The land currently designated to the Memphis Zoo was defined by the Overton Park master plan in 1888, it is owned by the City of Memphis. The zoo is set on 76 acres (31 ha), of which approximately 55 acres (22 ha) are developed.

56 species

1906 opened

Zoo Knoxville

Knoxville, TN

Zoo Knoxville, formerly known as the Knoxville Zoo or Knoxville Zoological Gardens, is a 53-acre (21 ha) zoo located just east of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, United States, near exit 392 off Interstate 40. The zoo is home to between 800 and 1,500 animals from 200 different species.

14 species

1971 opened

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Tacoma, WA

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (PDZA) is located in Tacoma, Washington, US, and is the only combined zoo and aquarium in the Pacific Northwest, PDZA is owned by Metro Parks Tacoma. Situated on 29 acres (12 ha) in Tacoma's Point Defiance Park, the zoo and aquarium are home to over 9,000 specimens representing 367 animal species. The zoo was founded in 1905; the aquarium was founded in 1935 near Commencement Bay and relocated within the zoo in 1963. Both are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In Pierce County, Washington, this is said to be one of the most popular tourist des…

5 species

1905 opened

Cougar Mountain Zoo

Issaquah, WA

Cougar Mountain Zoo is an 11-acre (4.5 ha) non-profit zoological park located in Issaquah, Washington, on the north slope of Cougar Mountain about 15 miles (24 km) east of Seattle. It is located near the border of the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park. The zoo focuses on endangered species including lemurs from Madagascar, Bengal tigers, and endangered birds from various parts of the world. It was founded in 1972 by Peter and Marcie Rittler who operated it admission-free for its first 15 years. In 1990, the founders donated it to the Zoological Society of Washington which assumed the z…

1972 opened

Seattle Aquarium

Seattle, WA

The Seattle Aquarium is a public aquarium in Seattle, Washington, United States, located on Pier 59 and 60 on the Elliott Bay waterfront. The aquarium opened in 1977 and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

1977 opened

Alaska Zoo

Anchorage, AK

The Alaska Zoo is a zoo in Anchorage, Alaska, located on 25 acres (10 ha) of the Anchorage Hillside. It is a popular attraction in Alaska, with nearly 200,000 visitors per year.

16 species

1969 opened

Alaska SeaLife Center

Seward, AK

The Alaska SeaLife Center is a public aquarium and Alaska's only permanent marine mammal rehabilitation facility. It is located on the shores of Resurrection Bay in Seward. It opened in May 1998, and is dedicated to understanding and maintaining the integrity of the marine ecosystem of Alaska through research, rehabilitation, conservation, and public education. It is the only facility in the world specifically dedicated to studying the northern marine environment and the only one designed at the outset to combine research with public education and visitor components. The Alaska SeaLife Cent…

1998 opened

Little Rock Zoo

Little Rock, AR

The Little Rock Zoo was founded in 1924 and is located in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States. It is home to more than 400 animals representing over 200 species, and covers an area of 33 acres (13 ha). The Arkansas Zoological Foundation is a private 501 c (3) organization that raises funds for zoo development. The Little Rock Zoo is a department of the city of Little Rock. It is the largest zoo in Arkansas, and the only Arkansas zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

21 species

1926 opened

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

Eureka Springs, AR

Georgia Aquarium

Atlanta, GA

Georgia Aquarium is a public aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The aquarium exhibits hundreds of species and thousands of animals across its seven major galleries, all of which reside in more than 11 million US gallons (42,000 m3) of water. It was the largest aquarium in the world from its opening in 2005 until 2012 when it was surpassed by the S.E.A. Aquarium in Singapore and the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China; the Georgia Aquarium remains the largest aquarium in the United States and the sixth largest in the world.

36 species

2005 opened

Bear Hollow Zoo

Athens, GA

Honolulu Zoo

Honolulu, HI

The Honolulu Zoo is a 42-acre (17 ha) zoo in Queen Kapiʻolani Park in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. It is the only zoo in the United States to be established by grants made by a sovereign monarch and is built on part of the 300-acre (121 ha) royal Queen Kapiʻolani Park. The Honolulu Zoo features over 1,230 animals in specially designed habitats.

53 species

1910 opened

4.2 ha

Waikīkī Aquarium

Honolulu, HI

The Waikīkī Aquarium is an aquarium in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. It was founded in 1904 and has been an institution of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa since 1919. The aquarium is the second-oldest still-operating public aquarium in the United States, after the New York Aquarium.

1904 opened

Audubon Insectarium

New Orleans, LA

The Audubon Insectarium is an insectarium and entomology museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. As part of its move from its previous location at the U.S. Custom House Federal Building to the site of the Audubon Aquarium, the museum reopened on June 8, 2023.

2008 opened

Gator Country LA Alligator Park

Natchitoches, LA

National Aquarium

Baltimore, MD

The National Aquarium—also known as the National Aquarium in Baltimore or Baltimore Aquarium—is a nonprofit public aquarium located at 501 East Pratt Street on Pier 3 in the Inner Harbor area of Downtown Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Constructed during a period of urban renewal in Baltimore, the aquarium opened on August 8, 1981. The aquarium has an annual attendance of 1.5 million visitors and is the largest tourism attraction in the state of Maryland. The aquarium holds more than 2,200,000 US gallons (8,300,000 L) of water, and has more than 17,000 specimens representing over 750 sp…

26 species

1981 opened

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

Baltimore, MD

The Maryland Zoo—also known as The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore and formerly as The Baltimore City Zoo or the Baltimore Zoo—is a 135-acre park located in historic Druid Hill Park in the northwestern area of the City of Baltimore, Maryland, with the postal address of 1876 Mansion House Drive. Druid Hill was opened in 1876 as the first major park purchase by the City under Mayor Thomas Swann (1809-1883), and was later designed by famed nationally-known landscaper Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903).

53 species

1876 opened

65 ha

Great Lakes Aquarium

Duluth, MN

The Great Lakes Aquarium opened in 2000 and is located on the Duluth waterfront. A 501(c)(3) private nonprofit, Great Lakes Aquarium features animals and habitats found within the Great Lakes basin and other worldwide ecosystems such as the Amazon River or Pacific reefs. The aquarium houses 205 different species of fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. It is one of few aquariums in the United States that focuses predominantly on freshwater exhibits.

2000 opened

Lake Superior Zoo

Duluth, MN

The Lake Superior Zoo, formerly known as the Duluth Zoo, is an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)–accredited zoo in Duluth, Minnesota, United States. Covering roughly 19 acres (7.7 ha) in the Fairmount neighborhood of West Duluth, at the base of Spirit Mountain, it is the only zoo in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. The zoo houses more than 400 animals representing over 140 species.

31 species

1923 opened

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

Kansas City, MO

The Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium is a 202-acre (82 ha) zoo founded in 1909 and is located in Swope Park at 6800 Zoo Drive, Kansas City, Missouri, in the United States. The zoo has a Friends of the Zoo program to help promote the work of the zoo which sees over one million visitors a year. The zoo is home to nearly 1,700 animals and the aquarium has around 8,000 animals. The zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

37 species

1909 opened

Grant's Farm

Saint Louis, MO

Hattiesburg Zoo

Hattiesburg, MS

The Hattiesburg Zoo is a small 12-acre (4.9 ha) zoo located within Kamper Park in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States. The zoo is operated by the Hattiesburg Convention Commission. As of 2019, the Commission's executive director was Rick Taylor. The Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Zoological Association of America.

1950 opened

Tupelo Buffalo Park

Tupelo, MS

The Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo is a zoo located in Tupelo, Mississippi. At 210 acres (0.85 km2), the zoo is the largest zoo in the state of Mississippi.

North Carolina Zoo

Asheboro, NC

The North Carolina Zoo, formerly the North Carolina Zoological Park, is a zoo in Asheboro, North Carolina, housing 1,700 animals of more than 250 species, primarily representing Africa and North America. It is one of two state-supported zoos in the United States, with the other being the Minnesota Zoo. With 500 acres (2.0 km2) developed, it is the world's largest natural habitat zoo. The North Carolina Zoo is a part of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

36 species

1974 opened

700k visitors/yr

North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island

Manteo, NC

North Carolina Aquariums is a system of three public aquariums located in Kure Beach, Roanoke Island and Pine Knoll Shores. All are operated by the Aquariums Division of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources since 1976 and were accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. All three aquariums feature dive shows, live animal encounters, and feeding programs.

Alameda Park Zoo

Alamogordo, NM

Alameda Park Zoo, located in Alamogordo, New Mexico, was founded in 1898 and claims to be the oldest zoo in the Southwestern United States. It participates in the Species Survival Plan for the Mexican wolf.

1898 opened

Albuquerque Aquarium

Albuquerque, NM

The ABQ BioPark Aquarium, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States is a facility of the Albuquerque Biological Park and is located next door to the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden. The ABQ BioPark Aquarium exhibits Gulf of Mexico and South Pacific saltwater species from a variety of habitats, including surf zone, shallow waters, coral reefs, open ocean and deep ocean. The highlight of the aquarium is a 285,000 U.S. gal (1,080,000 L) shark tank with a 38-foot (12 m)-wide, 9-foot (2.7 m)-high, 8-inch (200 mm)-thick acrylic viewing window.

1996 opened

Oklahoma City Zoo

Oklahoma City, OK

The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is a zoo and botanical garden located in Oklahoma City's Adventure District in northeast Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

7 species

1902 opened

Tulsa Zoo

Tulsa, OK

The Tulsa Zoo is an 84-acre (34 ha) zoo located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States. The Tulsa Zoo is owned by the City of Tulsa but since 2010 has been privately managed by Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc. The zoo is located in Mohawk Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the United States. The zoo is run as a non-profit.

45 species

1927 opened

600k visitors/yr

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

Pittsburgh, PA

The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium is a zoo and aquarium in the United States, one of only six major zoo and aquarium hybrids in the United States. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Highland Park, the zoo sits on 77 acres (31 ha) of park land where it exhibits more than 4,000 animals representing 475 species, including 20 threatened or endangered species.

5 species

1898 opened

Erie Zoo

Erie, PA

The Erie Zoo, is a zoological park in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is located on 15 acres (6.1 ha) of land in Glenwood Park, just off West 38th Street between Cherry Street and Glenwood Park Avenue. The zoo has more than 400 animals, while the botanical gardens and greenhouse have over 600 species of plants from around the world. The zoo, which operates from March to November, attracts more than 400,000 annual visitors.

1930 opened

Great Plains Zoo

Sioux Falls, SD

The Great Plains Zoo is a 45-acre (18 ha) zoo located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. The zoo formerly was connected with the Delbridge Museum of Natural History, and prior to the closure of the museum, the museum displayed 150 mounted animals, including 38 "vanishing species". The Great Plains Zoo is owned and operated through a partnership between the City of Sioux Falls and the Zoological Society.

1963 opened

Reptile Gardens

Rapid City, SD

Reptile Gardens is a reptile-focused zoo south of Rapid City, South Dakota, on US 16 between Rapid City and Mount Rushmore. The park is open from the first Saturday of March through November 30 each year. Reptile Gardens was certified in the 2014 and 2018 editions of Guinness World Records as the world's largest reptile zoo.

1937 opened

Hogle Zoo

Salt Lake City, UT

Utah's Hogle Zoo is a 42-acre (17 ha) Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) accredited facility. Located at the mouth of Salt Lake City's Emigration Canyon, Hogle Zoo is one of the largest zoos in the Intermountain West, and houses over 800 animals representing 139 species.

1931 opened

17 ha

Curiosity Farms

Lehi, UT

Milwaukee County Zoo

Milwaukee, WI

The Milwaukee County Zoo is a zoo in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that is operated by the Milwaukee County Parks Commission, covering an area of 190 acres (77 ha).

5 species

1892 opened

Henry Vilas Zoo

Madison, WI

Henry Vilas Zoo is a 28-acre (11 ha) public zoo in Madison, Wisconsin, United States, that is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Owned by Dane County, the zoo receives over 750,000 visitors annually.

1911 opened

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

Gulf Shores, AL

The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo opened in June 1989 in Gulf Shores, Alabama, United States as Zooland Animal Park. It is operated by the Zoo Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It relies on admissions, memberships and contributions for its funding. It was the basis of the Animal Planet show The Little Zoo That Could.

21 species

1989 opened

National Zoological Park

Washington, DC

The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, commonly known as the National Zoological Park or simply the National Zoo, is one of the oldest zoos in the United States. The zoo is part of the Smithsonian Institution and does not charge admission. Founded in 1889, its mission is to "provide engaging experiences with animals and create and share knowledge to save wildlife and habitats".

90 species

1889 opened

66 ha

Brandywine Zoo

Wilmington, DE

Brandywine Zoo is a small 4.7-acre (1.9 ha) zoo that opened in 1905 in Brandywine Park in Wilmington, Delaware, United States. It is located on the banks of the Brandywine River. The zoo is managed by the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation and supported by the Delaware Zoological Society. It is usually open every day, 10AM – 4PM, weather permitting.

15 species

1905 opened

Zoo Boise

Boise, ID

1916 opened

Newport Aquarium

Newport, KY

The Newport Aquarium is a public aquarium located in Newport, Kentucky.

Zoo Montana

Billings, MT

ZooMontana is a 70-acre (28 ha) zoo located in Billings, Montana, U.S. and is Montana's only zoo and botanical park. The zoo currently maintains nearly 100 animals, representing 58 species. These animals all live in habitats designed to imitate their natural habitats. The zoo was incorporated and established as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in 1992. It focuses on year-round wildlife native to Montana, the Rocky Mountains, and other cold temperature regions at or above the 45th parallel. Indoor habitats include animals from around the world. The zoo hosts over 160,000 visitors per year.

24 species

1992 opened

Explore The Ocean World Oceanarium

Hampton, NH

Turtle Back Zoo

West Orange, NJ

Turtle Back Zoo is a zoo in West Orange, New Jersey. Situated on 20 acres (8.1 ha) in the South Mountain Reservation, it is part of the South Mountain Recreation Complex, which is managed as part of the Essex County Park System, the oldest county park system in the United States. Founded in 1963, the zoo was originally a showcase for animals indigenous to the New York metropolitan area but currently features species from every continent except Antarctica. As of 2018, it houses approximately 1400 animals, including several hundred birds in a free-flight aviary. Located adjacent to the Richar…

18 species

1963 opened

Coral World Ocean Park

St Thomas, VI

Coral World is a marine park and tourist attraction located next to Coki Beach on the East End of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

1970 opened