Honoring our past.
Envisioning our future.
The Toledo Zoo is celebrating a monumental milestone—125 years of wildlife, conservation and community! Since 1900, we’ve grown into a local landmark, caring for thousands of animals and welcoming millions of visitors. Join us throughout the year for special events, reflections and more as we honor our past and envision our future.
125 Anniversary Event Series
3/27
Making Waves Donor Event
3/29
Aquarium 10 Year Anniversary Celebration
5/24- 5/25
125th Zoo Birthday Bash & Summer Season Kickoff
10/21- 10/23
125 Years of Impact Symposium
10/23
Impact to Action: A Legacy Gala
Who we are
One of
Lucas County's Most Cherished Gems welcoming about 1 million visitors annually with 78,000+ household memberships - the largest per capita in U.S.
Contributes
more than $73 million to the local economy each year.
Home to
more than 16,000 individual animals spanning 680+ species.
The largest
collection of WPA (Works Progess Administration) era buildings in one location, including the Reptile House, Amphitheatre, Aviary, ProMedica Museum of Natural History and Aquarium.
Cares for
90 endangered species and actively participates in conservation projects across the globe, including Nepal, the Pacific Islands and Tasmania.
Accredited by
the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a global leader in wildlife conservation and care.
Dedicated to
sustainable practices installing over 40 acres of native prairies on Zoo grounds and local schools to support pollinators and native wildlife.
Reaches
over 45,000 students educators and families annually through school and educational programs.
Leads
ground breaking Conservation Efforts including reintroducing Lake sturgeon to the Maumee River and releasing 1,000 monarch butterflies to support their migration to Mexico.
Rescued
brown bears Dodge, Montana and Cody who are thriving in the new 14,000 sq. ft. Komminsk Family Kodiak Ridge exhibit.
Historical Moments
These milestones reflect our growth, innovation and commitment to conservation and education over 125 years. Travel back through the Zoo’s rich history!
1900
The Toledo Zoo was established with the donation of a woodchuck by Carl Hillebrand.
1901
The Zoo nearly lost its entire collection when winter housing for the animals caught fire.
1904
The Conservatory was built and T.J. Ziems was appointed first official “keeper” of the Zoo.
1905
The first elephant was purchased. The female Asian elephant named Josie was obtained from a circus, likely the Ringling Brothers extravaganza.
1923
The Elephant House, which first opened in 1923, later transformed into the Lodge and is now part of the Nancy L. and Martin Davidson Barnyard.
1924
The Lion House opens (Carnivora). Kermit Roosevelt, son of former President Teddy Roosevelt, turned the first shovel at the groundbreaking. The building is now known as the Carnivore Cafe and opened on Christmas Day in 1927.
1928
Giraffe House opens (Herbivora).
1929
Primate House opens.
1930s
WPA Era: During the Great Depression, the Zoo utilized Works Progress Administration (WPA) programs to construct several notable buildings. The endearing limestone animals created by stone carver Arthur Cox have been the subject of countless photographs each year since they were placed on Zoo grounds in mid-1930s.
1934
The Reptile House was completed by the Civil Works Administration (CWA), the precursor to the WPA, at a total cost of $150,000. This building was constructed all by hand and with salvaged brick from abandoned local structures (House of Refuge at Walbridge Park, Temple Theater and City Street Department barns), timber from Wabash Railroad Roundhouse and stone from Ohio and Erie Canal locks and piers.
1936
Music Under the Stars has its musical roots in the grand opening of the WPA-era Ampitheatre in July 1936, though the summer evening concert series didn’t receive its name until 1938.
1937
The Aviary opens and was the first building in the nation to use glass blocks for walls supplied by Toledo’s Owens-Illinois Glass Company.
1938
The Museum of Science opens, boasting many hand-crafted elements and local success stories, including slate slabs in the floor that were quarried from the bed of the Maumee River and polished to a sheen.
1939
The Aquarium opens as Ohio’s first public aquarium and, at the time, the largest freshwater aquarium in the U.S. Built as the curved rear wall of the Amphitheatre, it enhances acoustics while housing aquatic wonders. This was the Zoo’s final WPA project and the 30,000th in Ohio.
1940s - 1960s
Post-war developments included exhibit expansions like new pens, a gibbon run and interconnecting water pools for waterfowl. During the 1960s, the Zoo created educational Talking Storybook Kiosks that would play with the use of a plastic key.
1958
On June 17, Cyril the Sea lion escaped from Storybook Gardens in Ontario, diving into the Thames River and making his way to Lake Erie. A $200 reward sparked a 10-day chase. On June 27, Toledo Zoo director Phil Skeldon brought him to the Zoo, where he quickly became a star attraction. Though Cyril returned to Canada on July 6, his wild adventure left a lasting impression on Toledo.
1959
The indoor trout run opens, thought to be the only one in the U.S. at the time.
1971
The Zoo made zoological history when a female cheetah conceived and gave birth to four cubs in the new Cheetah Valley exhibit, a first in North America. The quadruplets were successfully raised to maturity by their mother.
1973
The first chimpanzee conceived through artificial insemination at the Zoo is born.
1976
Toledo Zoo earns accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), recognizing its commitment to animal care, conservation, education and excellence in operations. It was the 11th zoo in the United States to be accredited at the time.
1979
The original Kingdom of the Apes building was dedicated on April 27.
1982
The Toledo Zoological Society transitioned from city ownership to a private, non-profit organization, reducing city funding from 80% to 10% over the following decades. Today, the Zoo generates most of its revenue through admissions, events and donations, allowing for greater independence and growth.
1986
The Hippoquarium made history as the world’s first exhibit with underwater hippo viewing, quickly becoming a groundbreaking attraction.
1986
Lights Before Christmas exhibit begins with about 50,000 lights & 10 hand-made animal images. Today, there are over 1 million lights.
1987
On July 8, female hippo Bubbles gave birth to Puddles, marking the first time a hippo birth was observed and filmed underwater.
1988
Giant Pandas, Le Le and Nan Nan, on loan from the People's Republic of China, go on exhibit for 100 days (spring, summer and fall), generating attendance of more than 1 million visitors.
1997
The Pedestrian Bridge over Anthony Wayne Trail, North Entry Complex, Visitor Services Building and North Star Trading Post Gift Shop open.
1998
The Zoo received the Nature Conservancy Conservation Colleague Award for the captive breeding and reintroduction of the Karner blue butterfly.
1999
The Avian Breeding Center (ABC) opens and the ZOOTeen Program begins.
2000
Arctic Encounter, a cutting-edge 4.2-acre exhibit, opens and provides immersive habitats for Polar bears, Gray wolves and seals. It features a 6,000-square-foot Polar bear habitat with a 75,000-gallon pool, a 4,000-square-foot seal exhibit with a 145,000-gallon pool, and an interactive interpretive building with an underwater viewing gallery for both species.
2004
The Africa! exhibit, spanning over 12 acres, opens with a separate town, village and bush areas. The 5-acre main savanna habitat houses over 40 animals representing 14 species, with views from the dining/observation deck or the Safari Railway, which encircles the exhibit. Additional highlights include a .6-acre African wild dog habitat, the one-of-a-kind African Animal Carousel and the Nairobi Events Pavilion.
2009
Nature’s Neighborhood debuts as a year-round, fully interactive children’s zoo to provide hands-on experiences designed to inspire a love of nature in children 8 and under. The exhibit features goats, guinea pigs, exotic birds, fish, and insects, with programs and activities that encourage exploration and inquiry-based learning.
2010
The Zoo made more environmental changes with the SolarWalk, consisting of 1400 solar panels. By producing 104,000 kilowatt hours yearly, it reduces carbon dioxide output by 75 metric tons.
2012
The former African Savanna reopens as Tembo Trail, which now boasts nearly 9,000 sq ft. of indoor animal space and nearly 40,000 sq ft. of outdoor exhibit space. During the reopening, it was home to elephants, hippos, rhinos, lions, meerkats, crocodile, naked mole rats and otters.
2013
Saltwater crocodile, Baru, arrived from Australia to reside in the Reptile House. At 17 ft. Long and weighing about 1,500 lbs., he was believed to be the largest of his species in North America at the time.
2014
Three new exhibits, Flamingo Key, ‘Keet Retreat and Penguin Beach, bring visitors closer than even to various bird species. In the spring, the Zoo shattered previous voting records and received the #1 spot for USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice for Best Zoo in America.
2015
An iconic renovation to the Aquarium enhanced visitor interaction with new, hands-on features and state-of-the-art exhibits that are still home to 3,000+ aquatic animals in 178,000 gallons of water. The Aquarium Adventure Trail and Splash Pad also opened this year.
2019
After serving as administration offices for many years, the ProMedica Museum of Natural History renovation debuted a two-story greenhouse, life-size models and various exhibits, including venomous animals.
2020
Built in-house by the maintenace department, the Nancy L. & Martin Davidson Barnyard lets guests feed animals, like goats and sheep, in both indoor and outdoor exhibits.
2023
The Komminsk Family Kodiak Ridge provides rescued bears Dodge, Cody and Montana with 4,000 sq. ft. of space, featuring a 5,000-gallon pool, a 130 sq. ft. nap cave with a viewing window and a sensory log for up-close encounters. A dedicated dig area lets bears and kids play side by side, mirroring their natural behaviors.
2024
The Total Eclipse at the Zoo event offered a rare viewing opportunity of the 2024 total eclipse, generating 10,459 guests and the highest revenue day in Zoo history.
Media Assets
Download our media kit for more resources.
Please credit "Toledo Zoo & Aquarium" where applicable.
