Henry Doorly Zoo

The zoo's approach has been to build large enclosed environments, which suits a city with severe winters. The Desert Dome, opened in 2002, is a geodesic dome about seventy metres across holding three desert environments - Namib, Red Centre and Sonoran - and is the largest indoor desert anywhere. Beneath it, Kingdoms of the Night is the largest nocturnal exhibit in the world, including an indoor swamp. The Lied Jungle is among the largest indoor rainforests. Scott Aquarium has a shark tunnel. The zoo also runs a genetics research centre working on assisted reproduction for endangered species, and holds one of the larger collections of great apes in the country.

Background

The zoo grew out of Riverview Park Zoo, where the first animals went on show in 1894. The Omaha Zoological Society was formed in 1952 to guide its long-term work, and in 1963 Margaret Hitchcock Doorly gave $750,000 on condition that the zoo take the name of her late husband, Henry Doorly. With help from Union Pacific, 2.5 miles of railway were laid in 1968, and the Omaha Zoo Railroad first ran on July 22, 1968. The Skyfari aerial tram opened in 2009. The grounds cover over 130 acres with 9,000 animals of 962 species, and the Desert Dome is also the largest glazed geodesic dome. In August 2014 TripAdvisor ranked it the world's best zoo.

Source: Wikipedia, "Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium"

Highlights

• The Desert Dome - seventy metres across, three deserts under one roof.
• Kingdoms of the Night - the largest nocturnal exhibit anywhere.
• The Lied Jungle - among the largest indoor rainforests.
• A working genetics research centre - on the same site.

When to go

Year round; the indoor exhibits make winter viable. A full day.

Before you go

It is large and takes a full day. Summer weekends and school holidays are very busy. Some exhibits and the train cost extra. Parking fills at peak.

Nearby

The Old Market district is north in downtown Omaha.

Key facts