Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens

Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens and its collection

Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens, opened in 1892, is a zoo in Milwaukee, United States.

The zoo holds 3,100 animals of 350 species and draws about 1.3 million visitors a year. In 2017 it was one of the first seven zoos certified for humane animal treatment by the American Humane Society. By 2025 that certification covered 42 zoos and aquariums in the United States.

Exhibits

The African ape building opened in 1992 at a cost of $10.7 million and holds bonobos and gorillas, while one island exhibit holds a troop of Japanese macaques. A walk-through aviary holds more than 60 species, and a Humboldt penguin pool sits near the main gate. The aquatic and reptile building holds Chinese alligators, green anacondas, Gila monsters and king cobras among others.

What the venue says

• Sky Safari chairlift
• Penzeys Carousel
• Sky Adventure Zip Line and Ropes Course
• giraffe feeding experiences
• Family Farm area with a goat yard
• children aged 2 and under are completely free
• The zoo hosts multiple eateries across the grounds, including _Café 1892_ (inside the U.S. Bank Gathering Place for classic burgers, sandwiches, and salads), _Crust & Copper_ (offering brick-oven pizza and pasta by Lake Evinrude), _Wild Burger & Woody's Custard_ , _Taco Caja_ , and the _Bear Garden_ (serving craft beer and pretzels).
• Parking is $15 per vehicle (managed via a license plate registration system upon arrival).
• fully paved pathways throughout
• all publicly accessible zoo buildings provide wheelchair-accessible entrances and elevators
• Manual wheelchairs ($10/day) and mobility (ECV) scooters ($35/day) are available for rent
• KultureCity sensory-inclusion tools (such as noise-canceling headphones and sensory bags)
• free access to Aira services for blind and low-vision visitors