1975: Construction began on the Primate & Cat Building.1970: Wade Hall is moved to its current location on the shore of Waterfowl Lake.1907: Cleveland's City Council moves the Zoo to its current location the Cleveland Museum of Art is built.1882: Cleveland Zoological Park opens at Wade Park (now University Circle).
Wade Hall, built in 1884, moved from its original location in University Circle in 1970. The following is a timeline of when selected buildings and exhibits were created: The Zoo's official website states that it currently has 3,000 animal residents representing more than 600 different species. Newer exhibits include the Asian highlands and Tiger Passage opened in 20, and The Rhino Reserve was completed in 2020. Ostrich races proved popular in 19 and a large public swimming pool sat on the grounds from 1930 until the 1960s.Ĭonstruction began on the Primate & Cat Building in 1975 (the Aquatics section would be added in 1985), later followed by the RainForest in 1992, Wolf Wilderness in 1997, Australian Adventure in 2000, and the Sarah Allison Steffee Center for Zoological Medicine in 2004. Although the Zoo had recovered by 1962, it would not have another permanent reptile collection until the opening of the RainForest thirty years later. That same year, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History assumed control of the Zoo.īetween 1955 and the transfer of management to the Cleveland Metroparks in 1975, the Zoo experienced rapid expansion despite setbacks due to flooding: the Zoo's reptile collection and several other buildings were lost when Big Creek overflowed in January 1959. By 1940, the Zoo was home to three elephants and its first (permanent) elephant resident since 1924. Beginning in 1910, the Zoo constructed Monkey Island, sea lion pools, and a moated bear exhibit. In 1907, the city of Cleveland moved the Zoo to its current location in Old Brooklyn, and the Zoo acquired its first elephant. During its early years, the Zoo only held animals of local origin. The Zoo, originally named the Cleveland Zoological Park, first opened in 1882 at Wade Park where the Cleveland Museum of Art now stands.
2.2.2 Michael Vitantonio (8th director).
2.2.1 Leonard Goss, DVM, PhD (7th director).2.2 Past directors/directors emeritus, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.2.1.1 National Zoo Association Awarded Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Staff with Honorary Memberships.2 Leadership Emeritus, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (CMZ).It is one of the most popular year-round attractions in Northeast Ohio by attendance with a 2% increase from the previous year to 1.2 million visitors in 2007, compared to the Cleveland Guardians who were the most popular attraction in Northeast Ohio in 2007 with a total attendance of over 2.2 million. The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo was founded in 1882. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has one of the largest collections of primates in North America, The Zoo is a part of the Cleveland Metroparks system. The Zoo is divided into several areas: Australian Adventure African Savanna Northern Wilderness Trek, The Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building, Waterfowl Lake, The RainForest, and the newly added Asian Highlands. The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo aka Cleveland Zoological Park is a 183-acre (74 ha) zoo in Cleveland, Ohio.