The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium began in 1900 with a single donated woodchuck housed at Walbridge Park in Toledo, Ohio. From that modest start, it grew into one of the country’s most respected zoos, known for its Depression-era architecture and long history of animal care and conservation.
Today the zoo spans about 51 acres and is home to more than 10,000 animals representing around 720 species. It’s especially famous for its Hippoquarium, the first exhibit to offer underwater viewing of hippos, and for USA Today naming it the Best Zoo in America in 2014.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Toledo, Ohio
- Opened: 1900
- Size: About 51 acres
- Species: Around 720 species, 10,000+ animals
- Annual visitors: About 1 million
- Famous for: The Hippoquarium and historic 1930s WPA-era buildings
A Zoo Built on New Deal History
Much of the Toledo Zoo’s charm comes from its Depression-era buildings, many constructed with Works Progress Administration labor in the 1930s. The zoo’s Aviary, opened in 1937, was the first building in the nation to use glass block walls, and several other structures from that era are still in daily use.
The zoo’s aquarium has its own historic firsts too. It opened as the first public aquarium in Ohio and, after a major renovation completed in 2015, now holds more than 3,000 aquatic animals across roughly 178,000 gallons of water, with its largest tank holding 90,000 gallons.
Home of the Hippoquarium
The Toledo Zoo’s Hippoquarium made history as the first exhibit to give visitors an underwater view of hippos, and it was also the site of the first-ever filmed underwater birth of a hippopotamus. That combination of research value and visitor appeal helped cement the zoo’s national reputation.
The zoo also participates in roughly 80 species survival programs, reflecting its ongoing role in conservation breeding efforts alongside its exhibits and public programming.
Explore more: Explore more top zoos and aquariums.
Toledo Zoo FAQs
When did the Toledo Zoo open?
The Toledo Zoo traces its origin to 1900, when a donated woodchuck became its first animal at Walbridge Park.
How big is the Toledo Zoo?
The zoo covers about 51 acres and is home to more than 10,000 animals from around 720 species.
What is the Toledo Zoo famous for?
It’s best known for its Hippoquarium, the first hippo exhibit with underwater viewing, and for its historic 1930s WPA-era buildings, including an aviary that was the first in the country built with glass block walls.
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Photo: DreamingKoala / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.