The Indianapolis Zoo is a zoo located in White River State Park, in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, housing more than 3,800 animals of more than 320 species and subspecies. The institution is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the American Alliance of Museums as a zoo, an aquarium, and a botanical garden. The zoo is a private non-profit organization, receiving no tax support, and is supported entirely by membership fees, admissions, donations, sales, grants, and an annual fundraiser.
In 1944, Lowell Nussbaum, columnist for the Indianapolis Times and later the Indianapolis Star, began to advocate for a zoo through his column “Inside Indianapolis,” which inspired the incorporation, in October 1944 of the Indianapolis Zoological Society. Soon the members of this group had outlined the plans for their zoo. Group members were adamant that “the zoo will rely on admissions, in-park sales, contributions, and memberships to support the zoo.” However, it would not be until 20 years later, in 1964, that the zoo opened to the public.
George Washington Park
The Indianapolis Zoo opened on April 18, 1964, at its original location in George Washington Park on East 30th Street. In its first year, the new attraction drew more than 270,000 visitors. The zoo originally featured an Asian elephant, penguins, kangaroos, foxes, raccoons, camels, bison, deer, lambs, tortoises, llamas, prairie dogs, pygmy goats, and buffalo exhibits. In 1965, the zoo became one of few in the country to employ a full-time education staff. By the 20th anniversary of the zoo, its animal collection had doubled in size, and it was determined that the zoo needed a new location where it could continue to expand.
White River State Park
The current zoo in White River State Park was opened in 1988 with a size of 64 acres (26 ha). After the construction of the Waters building and the Dolphin Pavilion, the zoo earned AZA accreditation as an aquarium as well as a zoo. In 1996, the Indianapolis Zoo became the first institution to be triple-accredited as a zoo, aquarium, and botanical garden. White River Gardens was considered a separate facility from 1999 to 2006 but is now included as part of the zoo. Bed Bug Exterminator Indianapolis
Restaurants and Pubs
- Hot Lamb is located at 3119 W 30th St, Indianapolis, IN
- Iron Skillet Restaurants is located at 2489 W 30th St #2268, Indianapolis, IN
- Harding Pub & Grub is located at 525 S Harding St, Indianapolis, IN
- O’Reilly’s Irish Pub & Restaurant is located at 1552 N Main St Suite A, Speedway, IN
Check out other attractions like Eieteljorg Museum
