Saturday at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Details
History
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, originally known as the Cincinnati Zoological Garden, traces its origins to the early 1870s in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1872, a group led by Andrew Erkenbrecher formed the Society for the Acclimatization of Birds to introduce insect-eating birds to combat a caterpillar infestation. By 1873, this effort evolved into the Zoological Society of Cincinnati, with plans to establish a full zoo. The society purchased 65 acres of land in the city for the project. The Zoo officially opened its gates to the public on September 18, 1875, making it the second-oldest zoo in the United States. Its initial collection was modest, featuring animals like monkeys, grizzly bears, a tiger, an alligator, and numerous birds.
In its early decades, the Cincinnati Zoo quickly gained prominence for innovative exhibits and breeding successes. The Elephant House, constructed in 1875, remains the oldest existing zoo building in America and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1889, the Zoo achieved a milestone when the first giraffe born in the Western Hemisphere arrived there. The facility expanded its animal collection through acquisitions and exchanges. It also became known for its beautifully landscaped grounds, reflecting a commitment to botanical displays alongside zoological ones. Visitors arrived via horse-drawn streetcars in the early years.
The Zoo faced challenges during the 20th century, including financial difficulties and the impacts of world events. A significant moment came in 1914 when Martha, the last known passenger pigeon, died at the Cincinnati Zoo, marking the extinction of the species. Under directors like Ed Maruska starting in 1968, the Zoo modernized with new facilities such as the Goetz Animal Health Center. Conservation efforts grew, focusing on endangered species propagation. The Zoo's reputation strengthened through successful breeding programs for rare animals. It also began emphasizing education and research.
In the late 20th century, the Cincinnati Zoo evolved into a leader in wildlife conservation and habitat design. Gorilla World opened in 1978, showcasing improved enclosures for great apes. The institution joined the Association of Zoos and Aquariums as an accredited member in 1978. It expanded its footprint by acquiring additional land and off-site reserves. In 1987, the Zoo officially added "Botanical Garden" to its name to recognize its long-standing emphasis on plants. Notable conservation work included programs for species like the black-footed ferret and California condor.
Today, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden celebrates over 150 years since its 1875 opening, remaining one of the nation's premier zoos. It continues to prioritize animal welfare, sustainability, and global conservation initiatives. The Zoo engages millions of visitors annually with interactive exhibits and educational programs. It has earned acclaim for successes in breeding endangered animals and public outreach. As a historic Cincinnati landmark, it blends tradition with modern science. The Zoo's ongoing evolution reflects its enduring role in wildlife preservation and community enjoyment.
Maps of the Zoo
Here is a low-resolution map of the Zoo. And here is a high-resolution map.
Summary
For this event, we will explore one of the most famous zoos in the United States. Because of its location in the middle of Cincinnati, the Zoo is a little smaller than you realize when you visit it. They do an incredible job utilizing their space.
And in addition to the animals you obviously expect to find at a zoo, the grounds are also quite literally, concurrently, a giant botanical garden. The design and landscaping of the place are quite enough reason all on their own to visit the Zoo.
The Cincinnati Zoo is an amazing facility, and if you've never been there, you really should see it at least once. And, if you have been there before, have you been there since they opened their huge new Elephant Trek habitat? Did you see their famous hippos, Fiona and Fritz? And when's the last time you had Cincinnati-based Graeter's ice cream in Cincinnati?
Tickets and Parking
If you're a member of the Cincinnati Zoo (I'm not), then parking and admission are free. Otherwise, parking is $10.
If you're a member of the Columbus Zoo (I am), then admission is half-off.
I'm told by people at the Cincinnati Zoo that if you buy your tickets online, they're $8-10 cheaper than buying them at the Zoo's gate, though I have never bought them online so I can't confirm. If you want to buy tickets online, here's the link.
The price of admission to the Cincinnati Zoo varies with the time of year, day of the week, and time of the day. Prices are higher at peak times when the Zoo is busier, and prices are lower later in the day when you have less time to visit that day.
When last I visited recently, admission at the gate, with my Columbus Zoo discount, was $17, not including parking.
A final note on parking: The Cincinnati Zoo verifies your parking when you exit the Zoo, not when you enter. You can either:
- Pay on your way out using a credit card. It's an automated system; there's no toll booth operator, though there is a Help button if you need it.
- Pay when you buy your ticket. In this case, you'll get a bar or QR code to scan at the gate on your way out.
- They also have standalone parking kiosks where you can scan a QR code with your phone and pay that way. I imagine when you pay this way, they email you a QR code to scan on your way out, though I've never actually used one of these kiosks.
If you have additional questions, the Zoo can be reached at 513-281-4700.
Restrooms
Obviously, there are restrooms and water fountains sprinkled throughout the Zoo. You won't have trouble finding one when you need it.
There's also one restroom just outside the main gate before you enter the Zoo. By this I mean there's one restroom just outside the main gate. It's one of those "family" restrooms, meaning only one person (or person with a child) can use it at a time.
At 10 a.m., this might not be a problem. But later in the day ... I've seen lines here before. Just saying that if you really need to pee on your way down to Cincinnati, you might want to stop before you get to the Zoo. This rest area is actually really nice, and keep in mind that only Zoo members are allowed to enter the Zoo before 10 a.m.
Food
Obviously, there are places all over the Zoo to get food. You won't starve unless you binge and purge. That said, for "real" food (not just, like, snacks) I would mildly recommend something in the vicinity of Mai Thai's Market.
Mai Thai's Market has Skyline, Graeter's, and Hops beer and food. And right next to the Market are the food trucks for The Coop, Wild Burger, and Taco Caja. Basically, you find your greatest variety of Zoo food here; the only thing you really have to go elsewhere for is (LaRosa's) pizza, soft-serve ice cream, or the popular Base Camp.
Where We'll Meet
We'll meet just outside or just inside the main gate. By "main gate," I mean the actual gate where a nice person actually scans your ticket before letting you into the Zoo. For reference, this gate is next to the ticket windows where walk-ups can actually buy the tickets for the aforementioned nice people to scan.
What We'll Do
The cheetah run is at 10:30 a.m., and I'm going to veer us in that direction early on via the giraffes. There are bleachers here for people to sit and watch, and they actually chain the area off when they start the run so that latecomers can't get a seat (they can watch from the side, but the view this way isn't nearly as good).
After that, we'll freestyle, but ultimately we will range over most, if not all, of the grounds.