The idea of a database of zoos, etc in the USA has been tossed around here for some time. I’ve been keeping one for myself for a few years, and have decided to put in the time and energy to share it with you all.
Please keep in mind that this is based on my personal list. I am really not looking for people to nitpick little details about it! If you have a facility to add, please first double check that it is still open, and do a search of the page (on windows, touch the Ctrl and F keys at the same time) to make sure it isn’t listed under a different name. I know I’m unfortunately missing places, there’s no way I’ve gotten them all, but you can be nice about it
Anything closing or having a major name change is also important to note.
To start, I will be doing one post per state. These will be roughly one per week, with less time between states that don’t have many facilities. Each state will be broken down into four main categories:
1. Zoos, aquariums, safaris, large nature centers, etc – Places that have sizeable collections and/or are focused on having animals.
2. Smaller nature centers and places with a limited amount of species – Facilities where animals aren’t the central focus but are present, like museums and nature centers that have a few herps and fish. If a museum has live animals, the listed category will say so, ex. “NH Museum, live animals” (see below). This will also include petting zoo type places that have a limited amount of exotics.
3. Better places to see domestics – This will be far from complete, but notable places I’ve saved that currently only hold domestics. These are things like nicer town parks, farm parks, etc.
4. Natural history museums and other notable facilities without animals – Places that have a focus, or partial focus, on modern species (not only dinosaurs) but don’t keep any live animals. This will also be incomplete as it wasn’t my focus, but these places often hold rare specimens, complete collections of native species, and things like that. They’re also good to know about if you’re on a zoo trip and the weather is awful There will also be a few notable nature centers that don’t have live animals, like ones that have big educational displays on California condors or grey whales.
Each facility listing will look like this:
FacilityName, Town – Category(ies) – Operating hours if not regular – Any major organizations they’re a member of – Any notes.
Every place will have the first three items. Explanations of everything beyond town:
Categories
A way to further break down what a facility is, without going into much detail. Here’s the categories I ended up going with, in alphabetical order:
Aquarium – Aquatic species, possibly with a few land mammals, birds, etc.
Birds – Vast majority of the collection is avian. A few species of other classes are possible.
Campground – You pitch a tent or park your camper.
Carnivore – Only keep Carnivora species. A few species of other orders are possible.
Cave – Caverns.
Church Retreat – Religion based and usually for groups.
Farm Park – Smaller zoo or petting zoo with lots of small rides and activities for kids, produce, farm stores, etc.
Hatchery – Fish hatchery.
Herps - Vast majority of the collection is reptilian and amphibian. A few species of other classes are possible.
Insects – Vast majority of the collection are insects and arachnids. A few species of other classes are possible.
LH Museum – Living History museum, with people reenacting historical time periods.
Lodge – Hotels, resorts, anything where you stay in their facilities overnight.
Museum – Any museums that don’t fit into the other three museum categories.
NC – Nature Center.
NH Museum – Natural History museum. Ones with animals will say “NH Museum, live animals”.
Park – A general open area that people can visit, usually for free.
Petting Zoo – A focus on petting and interacting with the majority of species held.
Primate – Vast majority of the collection are primates. A few species of other classes are possible.
Rehab – A focus on releasing animals back into the wild.
Rescue – Only keep animals that come from the wild, other facilities and/or private owners and who otherwise wouldn’t have anywhere to go.
Restaurant – Place where you eat.
Safari – You drive, or are driven through, expansive exhibits where the animals roam past you. Usually also have a walk-through area.
Science Museum – Museum with a focus on sciences.
Store – A shop.
Theme Park – Lots of rides for children and adults.
Ungulate – Vast majority of the collection are hoofstock. A few species of other orders are possible.
Zoo – A hodgepodge of species from different classes and orders, with no real focus on one area.
Operating Hours
Notations for facilities that aren’t open for regular hours year round. Mostly places that are seasonal, open by appointment only, or for tours only. Tours may have a regular set schedule.
Associations
Associations can be an easy indicator of how reputable a place is. The ones used here, in alphabetical order, are:
AAM – American Alliance of Museums
AMMPA – Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums
ASA – American Sanctuary Association
AZA – Association of Zoos & Aquariums
AZAc – Association of Zoos & Aquariums, certified related facility
AZAptm – Association of Zoos & Aquariums, Pathway Towards Membership program (Pathway Toward Membership Program)
BCSA – Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance
GFAS – Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries
GFASv – Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, verified (not accredited)
IMATA – International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association
USFWS – U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
WAZA – World Association of Zoos & Aquariums
ZAA – Zoological Association of America
Notes
Anything additional. I’ve tried to note if a place has a train of any sort (people like trains), tram, skyfari, etc. Carousels are too plentiful to be worth mentioning. Most nature centers have a bit more detail about the types of animals they hold. Hatcheries usually have their species listed. I’ve also put here if they’re a member of Museums For All, a program that gives free or discount admission to people on food stamps. Any additional or previous names for the facility that I know of will also be here.
Please keep in mind that this is based on my personal list. I am really not looking for people to nitpick little details about it! If you have a facility to add, please first double check that it is still open, and do a search of the page (on windows, touch the Ctrl and F keys at the same time) to make sure it isn’t listed under a different name. I know I’m unfortunately missing places, there’s no way I’ve gotten them all, but you can be nice about it
Anything closing or having a major name change is also important to note. To start, I will be doing one post per state. These will be roughly one per week, with less time between states that don’t have many facilities. Each state will be broken down into four main categories:
1. Zoos, aquariums, safaris, large nature centers, etc – Places that have sizeable collections and/or are focused on having animals.
2. Smaller nature centers and places with a limited amount of species – Facilities where animals aren’t the central focus but are present, like museums and nature centers that have a few herps and fish. If a museum has live animals, the listed category will say so, ex. “NH Museum, live animals” (see below). This will also include petting zoo type places that have a limited amount of exotics.
3. Better places to see domestics – This will be far from complete, but notable places I’ve saved that currently only hold domestics. These are things like nicer town parks, farm parks, etc.
4. Natural history museums and other notable facilities without animals – Places that have a focus, or partial focus, on modern species (not only dinosaurs) but don’t keep any live animals. This will also be incomplete as it wasn’t my focus, but these places often hold rare specimens, complete collections of native species, and things like that. They’re also good to know about if you’re on a zoo trip and the weather is awful
There will also be a few notable nature centers that don’t have live animals, like ones that have big educational displays on California condors or grey whales.Each facility listing will look like this:
FacilityName, Town – Category(ies) – Operating hours if not regular – Any major organizations they’re a member of – Any notes.
Every place will have the first three items. Explanations of everything beyond town:
Categories
A way to further break down what a facility is, without going into much detail. Here’s the categories I ended up going with, in alphabetical order:
Aquarium – Aquatic species, possibly with a few land mammals, birds, etc.
Birds – Vast majority of the collection is avian. A few species of other classes are possible.
Campground – You pitch a tent or park your camper.
Carnivore – Only keep Carnivora species. A few species of other orders are possible.
Cave – Caverns.
Church Retreat – Religion based and usually for groups.
Farm Park – Smaller zoo or petting zoo with lots of small rides and activities for kids, produce, farm stores, etc.
Hatchery – Fish hatchery.
Herps - Vast majority of the collection is reptilian and amphibian. A few species of other classes are possible.
Insects – Vast majority of the collection are insects and arachnids. A few species of other classes are possible.
LH Museum – Living History museum, with people reenacting historical time periods.
Lodge – Hotels, resorts, anything where you stay in their facilities overnight.
Museum – Any museums that don’t fit into the other three museum categories.
NC – Nature Center.
NH Museum – Natural History museum. Ones with animals will say “NH Museum, live animals”.
Park – A general open area that people can visit, usually for free.
Petting Zoo – A focus on petting and interacting with the majority of species held.
Primate – Vast majority of the collection are primates. A few species of other classes are possible.
Rehab – A focus on releasing animals back into the wild.
Rescue – Only keep animals that come from the wild, other facilities and/or private owners and who otherwise wouldn’t have anywhere to go.
Restaurant – Place where you eat.
Safari – You drive, or are driven through, expansive exhibits where the animals roam past you. Usually also have a walk-through area.
Science Museum – Museum with a focus on sciences.
Store – A shop.
Theme Park – Lots of rides for children and adults.
Ungulate – Vast majority of the collection are hoofstock. A few species of other orders are possible.
Zoo – A hodgepodge of species from different classes and orders, with no real focus on one area.
Operating Hours
Notations for facilities that aren’t open for regular hours year round. Mostly places that are seasonal, open by appointment only, or for tours only. Tours may have a regular set schedule.
Associations
Associations can be an easy indicator of how reputable a place is. The ones used here, in alphabetical order, are:
AAM – American Alliance of Museums
AMMPA – Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums
ASA – American Sanctuary Association
AZA – Association of Zoos & Aquariums
AZAc – Association of Zoos & Aquariums, certified related facility
AZAptm – Association of Zoos & Aquariums, Pathway Towards Membership program (Pathway Toward Membership Program)
BCSA – Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance
GFAS – Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries
GFASv – Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, verified (not accredited)
IMATA – International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association
USFWS – U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
WAZA – World Association of Zoos & Aquariums
ZAA – Zoological Association of America
Notes
Anything additional. I’ve tried to note if a place has a train of any sort (people like trains), tram, skyfari, etc. Carousels are too plentiful to be worth mentioning. Most nature centers have a bit more detail about the types of animals they hold. Hatcheries usually have their species listed. I’ve also put here if they’re a member of Museums For All, a program that gives free or discount admission to people on food stamps. Any additional or previous names for the facility that I know of will also be here.
