The Detroit Zoo opened in its current form on August 1, 1928, spanning the border of Royal Oak and Huntington Woods, Michigan, just north of the city of Detroit. It made history as one of the first zoos in the United States to move away from caged animal displays in favor of open, naturalistic habitats, a philosophy that still shapes how the zoo designs its exhibits nearly a century later.
Today the Detroit Zoo is owned by the City of Detroit and operated by the nonprofit Detroit Zoological Society, drawing more than a million visitors each year to see its roughly 2,000 animals representing over 200 species. The zoo is also known for taking early ethical stands, including becoming one of the first U.S. zoos to stop keeping elephants due to concerns about their welfare in northern climates.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Royal Oak / Huntington Woods, Michigan
- Opened: August 1, 1928
- Size: 125 acres
- Species: Over 200 species, about 2,000 animals
- Annual Visitors: About 1.3 million
- Operator: Detroit Zoological Society (nonprofit)
- Famous For: Early adoption of bar-less, naturalistic habitats
Signature Exhibits
The Arctic Ring of Life, which opened in 2001, lets visitors walk through a 70-foot underwater acrylic tunnel beneath swimming polar bears and seals. The Polk Penguin Conservation Center, opened in 2016, is recognized as the largest facility in the world dedicated to penguins, housing multiple species in a climate-controlled habitat that mimics Antarctic and sub-Antarctic conditions.
Other notable areas include the National Amphibian Conservation Center, which opened in 2000 and focuses on frog and salamander conservation, and the Australian Outback Adventure, where guests can walk among free-ranging kangaroos and wallabies.
History and Conservation Focus
An earlier, short-lived Detroit zoo attempt dated back to 1883 but closed within a year; the zoo that exists today traces its founding to 1928. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990 in recognition of its early bar-less exhibit design.
The Detroit Zoological Society has leaned into conservation and animal welfare messaging, notably ending its elephant program in 2005 over concerns about cold-weather living conditions, a decision often cited as ahead of its time among American zoos.
Explore more: Explore more top zoos and aquariums.
Detroit Zoo FAQs
Where is the Detroit Zoo located?
The Detroit Zoo sits on the border of Royal Oak and Huntington Woods, Michigan, just outside the city of Detroit.
How big is the Detroit Zoo?
The zoo covers about 125 acres and is home to roughly 2,000 animals representing more than 200 species.
What is the Detroit Zoo known for?
It’s known for being one of the first U.S. zoos to use bar-less, naturalistic habitats, and for exhibits like the Arctic Ring of Life and the Polk Penguin Conservation Center, the world’s largest penguin facility.
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Photo: WMrapids / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.