Indianapolis Zoo - History

History

The Indianapolis Zoo opened on April 18, 1964 at its original location on East 30th St. The official opening was two decades after the Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc. was formed and planning for the Zoo started. 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. At this point it was determined that the Zoo needed a new location where it could continue to expand.

In 1982, international zoo, aquarium and wildlife authorities gathered to determine goals for establishing the new Zoo. It was determined that a Zoo should not only be a place to see animals, but an institution of conservation and education. That same year, White River Gardens was declared as the new site of the Zoo. The groundbreaking at the new downtown location was held in September 1985. The old Zoo closed in 1987 and opened in its new location on June 11, 1988.

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 attraction from 1999 to 2006, but now is included as part of the Zoo.