Lincoln Children’s Zoo opened on July 23, 1965, after Lincoln businessman Arnott Folsom spent years and his own personal funds planning a zoo designed specifically for kids. What began on just three acres of city land with around 120 animals has grown into a beloved Nebraska institution, now spread across 20 acres in the heart of Lincoln after a 2019 expansion doubled its footprint.
The zoo set an all-time attendance record in 2025, welcoming 411,496 guests through its gates for the first time topping 400,000 in a single year, an increase of more than 28,000 visitors over 2024. Its AZA accreditation and focus on close, interactive animal encounters have made it a staple for Nebraska families and school groups alike.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
- Opened: July 23, 1965
- Size: 20 acres
- Species: 103 species, 400+ animals
- Annual visitors: 411,496 (2025, record year)
- Famous for: Hands-on, kid-focused animal encounters
A Zoo Built for Kids
From the outset, Lincoln Children’s Zoo was designed around close, interactive encounters rather than distant viewing, letting young visitors get up close with animals in a way larger zoos often can’t accommodate. The zoo houses more than 400 animals across 103 species, including more than 40 endangered species such as Sumatran tigers and Matschie’s tree-kangaroos.
Other residents include Humboldt penguins, red pandas, snow leopards, giraffes, cheetahs, and giant anteaters, giving visitors a surprisingly diverse roster of wildlife packed into a walkable space.
Growth and Year-Round Access
The zoo grew steadily from its original three-acre footprint, and in May 2019 completed the largest expansion in its history, a $24 million project that doubled the campus to 20 acres and added giraffes, tigers, and spider monkeys. The expansion also let Lincoln Children’s Zoo shift to year-round operations after decades as a seasonal attraction.
Today it’s accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and ranks as the third most attended arts and science attraction in Nebraska, a notable feat for a privately funded zoo of its size. Its 2025 attendance record of 411,496 guests underscored that continued growth.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
Rubber-armored for small hands, so kids can find the snow leopard before the adults do.
A field guide that keeps the animal spotting going on the drive home and at home.
Zoo days are long and the shade isn't always where the animals are.
Lincoln Children’s Zoo FAQs
When did Lincoln Children’s Zoo open?
It opened on July 23, 1965, after founder Arnott Folsom began planning it with his own funds in 1959.
How big is Lincoln Children’s Zoo?
The zoo covers about 20 acres today, after a 2019 expansion doubled its original 10-acre footprint.
How many people visit Lincoln Children’s Zoo each year?
The zoo set an attendance record in 2025 with 411,496 visitors, its first year ever topping 400,000 guests.
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Photo: Hanyou23 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.