Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium — Zoo & Aquarium in Omaha

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium and its collection

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, opened in 1894, is a zoo in Omaha, Nebraska, United States.

It traces back to the Riverview Park Zoo, founded in 1894, and took its current name in 1963 after a $750,000 gift from Margaret Hitchcock Doorly given in memory of her husband, Henry. The grounds include the Desert Dome, a 137-foot-high, 230-foot-wide glazed geodesic dome built in 2002 and described as the largest of its type, the Lied Jungle, an indoor rainforest opened in 1992 covering 123,000 square feet, and the Scott Aquarium, opened in 1995 with 1.2 million gallons of water and a shark tank crossed by a 70-foot viewing tunnel. Later additions include the 28-acre African Grasslands exhibit, opened in 2016 at a cost of $73 million, alongside a free-flight aviary for around 500 birds and an amphibian programme that has released more than 121,000 animals to date.

History

Animals were first shown on the site in 1894 as Riverview Park Zoo, and by 1898 there were over 120 of them. The Omaha Zoological Society was set up in 1952 to steer long-term work. The zoo was renamed in 1963 following a gift of $750,000 from Margaret Hitchcock Doorly.

Animals and collection

Animals on show include Amur tigers, snow leopards, white rhinos, sloth bears and rattlesnakes.

Exhibits

African Grasslands, 28 acres built for $73 million across the former eastern boundary and Pachyderm Hill, took six years to plan and three to construct before opening on 27 May 2016; Asian Highlands cost $22 million and covers 8 acres of fresh ground, recreating the uplands of central Asia around a Yeti Camp hub and a Kid's Discovery Trail. The Desert Dome, which contains Kingdoms of the Night, dates from April 2002 and cost $31.5 million, while the Berniece Grewcock Butterfly and Insect Pavilion followed in 2008. Lemurs, straw-coloured fruit bats and giant jumping rats went on show when Expedition Madagascar opened on 7 May 2010, and the Garden of the Senses had been completed in the spring of 1998 for $1.8 million.

Things to do

Things to do include Stingray Beach, Wild Explorer, Lozier Giant Screen Theater, Scott Alaskan Adventure Splash Park and Sue's Carousel.

What the venue says

• Wild Explorer
• Skyfari
• Giraffe Encounter
• With 13 indoor and outdoor dining and snack locations throughout the Zoo, you’ll find everything from Asian-inspired dishes at Yeti Camp to African favorites at Tusker Grill, along with classic family-friendly options and diet-conscious choices at every location.
• The zoo features paved walkways, elevators, and ADA-compliant restrooms to help guests navigate the grounds.
• the park is quite hilly and expansive, requiring significant walking
• Some indoor exhibits, like parts of the Desert Dome, feature narrower pathways that require extra care when operating wheelchairs or electric scooters.
• Manual wheelchairs, adult strollers, and electric convenience scooters are available to rent on-site
• "Omaha Zoo 4 All" mobile application, which is designed to help guests and families plan their visit around specific sensory, mobility, and cognitive accessibility needs.