Lincoln Children's Zoo facts for kids
Zoo logo
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Entrance to the zoo
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| Date opened | July 1965 |
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| Location | Lincoln, Nebraska, United States |
| Land area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Coordinates | 40°48′01″N 96°40′45″W / 40.800175°N 96.679141°W |
| No. of animals | More than 300 |
| No. of species | 103 |
| Memberships | AZA |
The Lincoln Children's Zoo is a super fun place in Lincoln, Nebraska, made especially for kids! It's designed so you can have amazing, close-up experiences with all sorts of animals. This zoo is officially approved by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which means it's a great home for its animals.
Nearly 200,000 people visit the Lincoln Children's Zoo every year. This makes it one of the most popular attractions in Nebraska! The zoo covers 10 acres and is funded by private donations. It's open from mid-April to mid-October. Today, the zoo is home to over 400 animals. More than 40 of these animals are endangered, like the Amur leopard and Matschie's tree-kangaroo.
History of the Zoo
The idea for a children's zoo started in 1959 with Arnott Folsom. He wanted a place where kids could really interact with animals. By 1963, the zoo was being built on three acres of land. The tracks for the zoo's train, called the "Iron Horse," were finished first.
Folsom decided to sell train tickets to help raise money for the rest of the zoo's construction. In 1964, he hired a full-time train crew. The train traveled about 2,800 miles and sold over 150,000 tickets! The Lincoln Children's Zoo officially opened in 1965. It started with about 120 animals.
Key Moments in Zoo History
- 1973: The zoo hired full-time staff. This meant animals could stay at the zoo all year long.
- 1978: The Animal Kingdom building opened. This was the zoo's first indoor exhibit space.
- 1997: New homes were built for river otters, spectacled bears, Bactrian camels, and gelada baboons. The zoo also welcomed Amur leopards and New Guinea singing dogs. A new education center and vet clinic opened, and "Zoo School" began.
- 2001: The Butterfly Pavilion opened.
- 2002: The train's name changed from Iron Horse Railroad to ZO&O Railroad. The old train was replaced with a new one.
- 2003: New animals arrived, including De Brazza's monkeys. A new home for the zoo's bald eagles and a new play area for kids also opened.
- 2004: The Camelot Commons Education Center opened. Pot-bellied seahorses and harbor seals joined the zoo family.
- 2005: The zoo celebrated its 40th birthday! "Dromedary Dock" opened, letting visitors feed the camels.
- 2008: The Stegosaurus Fountain became Stego's Big Dig. Laura's Butterfly Pavilion became a permanent home for butterflies.
- 2009: The zoo had grown to 10 acres and was home to about 350 animals.
- 2011: The Humboldt penguin exhibit opened. This brought Humboldt penguins to Nebraska for the very first time!
- 2013: The zoo's "Iron Horse" train celebrated its 50th anniversary.
- 2014: The Animal Encounter Stage was built. Here, kids can meet and greet some of the zoo's animals daily. You might see a bobcat, a baby alligator, or fennec foxes!
- 2019: New giraffes, spider monkeys, red pandas, and Sumatran tigers arrived. They moved into new homes near the zoo's entrance.
Zoofari Program
In March 2013, the Lincoln Children's Zoo teamed up with Larry the Cable Guy's Git-R-Done Foundation. Together, they created "Zoofari with Larry the Cable Guy." This amazing program lets hundreds of children's hospitals across the country bring the zoo to their patients!
"Zoofari" videos are filmed right at the Lincoln Children's Zoo. Larry the Cable Guy interacts with the animals and zookeepers in a fun, educational way. The Git-R-Done Foundation sends these Zoofari DVDs for free to hospitals with children's wards all over the United States.
Zoo Exhibits
Humboldt Penguins
Come see the Humboldt penguins! They live in a special pool where you can watch them swim and play. Sometimes, you can even see them parade around!
Laura's Butterfly Pavilion
Step into Laura's Butterfly Pavilion, a beautiful, permanent home for butterflies. Here, you can watch these colorful insects fly all around you.
Critter Outpost
At Critter Outpost, you can learn about many small animals. These include guinea pigs, doves, and tenrecs. Zookeepers show different animals every hour. This exhibit is open daily in summer and on weekends during other seasons.
The Hive
The Hive is an indoor exhibit where you can see and even touch different reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods. You might see Madagascar hissing cockroaches, tarantulas, and scorpions up close!
Giraffe Enclosure
Visit the new giraffe house and meet the zoo's first four giraffes! You might even get to feed and pet them. Outside, you can watch the giraffes run and roam in their grassy habitat.
Red Panda Conservation Center
This new exhibit is home to a family of red pandas. Red pandas are related to raccoons and kinkajous. They are an endangered animal. This is mainly because of poaching and losing their homes.
The Secret Jungle
At the first monkey house, you'll see black-headed spider monkeys and geoffroy's spider monkeys. Watch them swing and play in their new area! Kids can also play and slide here, pretending to be monkeys swinging through the trees.
Tiger Forest
The Tiger Forest is a new part of the zoo. It is home to the sumatran tiger.
Education Programs
The zoo offers many ways to learn about animals!
Animal Encounter Stage
On the Animal Encounter Stage, you can meet different animals up close. Zookeepers teach visitors about the animals that live at the zoo. Shows happen daily at different times.
Zoo Camps
Zoo Camps are held in one-week sessions throughout the summer. These camps are for children ages 3 to 12. Older kids, ages 14 to 18, can even travel with the zoo to learn about animals in other parts of the world!
Volunteer as Zoo Crew
Children and adults can volunteer as a Zoo Crew member. You can help with many tasks around the zoo. This includes helping with presentations, working at Critter Outpost, leading pony rides, or even driving the train!
Events
Wild Wednesdays
Each Wild Wednesday has a different theme. These days include special animal demonstrations and fun activities for all visitors.
