Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium traces its roots to 1894, when it opened as the small Riverview Park Zoo. It was renamed in 1963 after a major gift from businessman Henry Doorly, and has since grown into one of the most acclaimed zoological parks in the United States, sprawling across more than 160 acres in Omaha, Nebraska.
The zoo is best known for its record-setting indoor habitats, including the Lied Jungle, one of the world’s largest indoor rainforests, and the Desert Dome, built beneath the world’s largest glazed geodesic dome. In 2014, TripAdvisor ranked it the world’s best zoo, ahead of both the San Diego Zoo and Spain’s Loro Parque, cementing its reputation as a premier Midwest attraction.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Omaha, Nebraska
- Opened: 1894 (as Riverview Park Zoo; renamed 1963)
- Size: Over 160 acres
- Species: Over 33,000 animals representing more than 1,000 species
- Annual visitors: 2+ million
- Famous for: Lied Jungle, Desert Dome, and the Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium
Record-Setting Exhibits
The Lied Jungle immerses visitors in a simulated rainforest ecosystem under one roof, while the Desert Dome recreates arid landscapes from around the globe beneath a massive geodesic dome. The Kingdoms of the Night exhibit, billed as the world’s largest nocturnal animal exhibit, pairs a walk-through indoor swamp with darkened corridors for viewing nocturnal wildlife.
The Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium holds roughly 1.2 million gallons of water and ranks among the largest aquariums housed within a zoo anywhere in the world, giving visitors close-up views of species from penguins to sharks and coral reef fish.
Conservation and Research
Beyond its exhibits, the zoo operates the Bill and Berniece Grewcock Center for Conservation and Research, recognized for pioneering work in reproductive science for large cats, including early breakthroughs in artificial insemination. The zoo has also been home to notable conservation milestones, such as one of the world’s first in-vitro-fertilized gorillas.
Accredited by both the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium continues to combine large-scale public exhibits with active species research and breeding programs, including one of the largest amphibian conservation programs in the country.
Explore more: Explore more top zoos and aquariums.
Henry Doorly Zoo FAQs
When did Henry Doorly Zoo open?
The zoo traces its history to 1894 as the Riverview Park Zoo. It was renamed Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo in 1963 following a significant donation from Henry Doorly.
How big is Henry Doorly Zoo?
The zoo covers more than 160 acres in Omaha, Nebraska, and is home to over 33,000 animals representing more than 1,000 species.
What is Henry Doorly Zoo known for?
It is known for record-setting indoor exhibits like the Lied Jungle and Desert Dome, and in 2014 TripAdvisor ranked it the world’s best zoo.
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Photo: Dual Freq / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.