Even caimans wouldn't be ideal for that pool. It's a really odd enclosure and definitely not appropriate to house any crocodilian. They recently gave it a pretty puny renovation which basically just involved hollowing out the log in the middle. I feel like the only suitable inhabitants would be a few small turtles.
I will say, while I personally wouldn't have included either historical Cincinnati buildings on my list (this one and the reptile house), Cincinnati certainly has its fair share of absolutely beautiful architecture with these two buildings. If there was a thread for "America's Must-See Zoo Buildings/Zoo Architecture", I would expect both of those gorgeous buildings to near the top of the list. The galapagos giant tortoise exhibit attached to this building also seems great, so I can certainly see the rationale for this inclusion even if it wouldn't make my personal must-see exhibits list (as has already been established, I think it's clear @pachyderm pro puts more emphasis on historic value than I do when judging exhibit's must-see status).98. Reptile House
Cincinnati Zoo, OH
Opened: 1875 (Renovated in 1951)
Size: 4,000 Square Feet (370 Square Meters)
Inhabitants: Roughly 30 reptiles and amphibians.
This Moorish Revival building is the oldest existing animal house left standing in an American zoo. When it originally opened alongside the park it began as the monkey house. It wasn’t until over 75 years later that reptiles and amphibians took over the space, a very necessary change considering the modest square footage of the building. The layout is rather simple, being a circular gallery with walls lined by vivaria and an unfortunately small pool for Chinese alligators at the center. Designed to accommodate an aviary, the house is unusual tall and the 40 feet high dome is quite striking. Due to its advanced age and small size, the collection isn’t nearly as large or diverse as many of the other significant reptile complexes in America, but that’s to be expected and it's definitely for the best. You won't find any outstanding enclosures within the structure, but there is a nicely done walkthrough enclosure for Galapagos tortoise adjacent to the house that was added much more recently. The surrounding botanical gardens are beautiful as well and complement this iconic zoo building wonderfully.
@Moebelle
@Moebelle
@TinoPup
@Moebelle
@Moebelle
@Moebelle
Similar Exhibits: There are a few other historic reptile houses with impressive architecture, although I only know of one that also began as something else. Brookfield Zoo's Reptiles and Birds building was originally known as the perching bird house and hosted a wide collection birds in tiny glass boxes. The collection slowly dwindled out and nowadays its mostly a reptile house with only a walk-in aviary at the houses center containing any avian residents. Predated by Cincinnati's reptile house about 60 years, its not as attractive architecturally, but is still a very cool WPA era building.
@geomorph
@Moebelle
It is better now that only one male now lives there instead of like 20 a couple years ago.
This is one that has been hinted at, and I think solely for its record, its placement on the list is somewhat justified. I thought it was nice enough during my visit, probably on the upper end of the reptile houses I've seen. It's just not really that big, or anything much more than a single room with some nicely furnished terrariums.98. Reptile House
Cincinnati Zoo, OH
Opened: 1875 (Renovated in 1951)
Size: 4,000 Square Feet (370 Square Meters)
Inhabitants: Roughly 30 reptiles and amphibians.
This Moorish Revival building is the oldest existing animal house left standing in an American zoo. When it originally opened alongside the park it began as the monkey house. It wasn’t until over 75 years later that reptiles and amphibians took over the space, a very necessary change considering the modest square footage of the building. The layout is rather simple, being a circular gallery with walls lined by vivaria and an unfortunately small pool for Chinese alligators at the center. Designed to accommodate an aviary, the house is unusual tall and the 40 feet high dome is quite striking. Due to its advanced age and small size, the collection isn’t nearly as large or diverse as many of the other significant reptile complexes in America, but that’s to be expected and it's definitely for the best. You won't find any outstanding enclosures within the structure, but there is a nicely done walkthrough enclosure for Galapagos tortoise adjacent to the house that was added much more recently. The surrounding botanical gardens are beautiful as well and complement this iconic zoo building wonderfully.
@Moebelle
@Moebelle
@TinoPup
@Moebelle
@Moebelle
@Moebelle
Similar Exhibits: There are a few other historic reptile houses with impressive architecture, although I only know of one that also began as something else. Brookfield Zoo's Reptiles and Birds building was originally known as the perching bird house and hosted a wide collection birds in tiny glass boxes. The collection slowly dwindled out and nowadays its mostly a reptile house with only a walk-in aviary at the houses center containing any avian residents. Predated by Cincinnati's reptile house about 60 years, its not as attractive architecturally, but is still a very cool WPA era building.
@geomorph
@Moebelle
Apologies if this has already been addressed, but what exhibit did you have on the list in this spot before this exhibit opened? And for that matter, the Smithsonian’s bird house as well? I’m sure it’s a possibility that you were very sure these exhibits would make the list and didn’t consider any alternatives, but what exhibits were forced off the list with the inclusions of the two that opened after the thread began?99. Galápagos Islands
Houston Zoo, TX
Opened: 2023
Size: 2.5 Acres (1 Hectare)
Inhabitants: California Sea Lion, Humboldt Penguin, Galapagos Tortoise, Green Sea Turtle, Grand Cayman Blue Iguana and roughly 30 species of fish and invertebrate.
Exactly one month ago Houston took the next step towards reorganizing their grounds with conservation focused exhibit complexes. This is the first and only major Galápagos exhibit anywhere in the world, at least one that goes far beyond just tortoises. As one would expect, most of the headline species are stand-ins for animals which are indigenous to the islands. It would have been amazing to see actual Galápagos sea lions, Galápagos penguins, marine iguanas and such brought in, but obviously that was never in the cards to begin with. Thankfully the zoo does emphasize that these species are only meant to represent those animals instead of passing them off as the same. Only the Galápagos tortoises are actually endemic to the islands and they can be found in what’s probably the most beautifully detailed tortoise enclosure in a zoo, resembling a volcanic meadow complete with small hills and superb rockwork. Another outstanding enclosure is the sea lion exhibit which can be completely circumnavigated and viewed from at least five angles, including a spectacular underwater tunnel. Beyond those two outdoor habitats, a majority of the complex consists of an aquarium building covered in simulated lava cliffs. The 290,000 gallon one ocean tank is the standout attraction, modeled after a Galápagos reef with volcanic boulders and fabricated coral resembling eight species found around the islands. Smaller tanks for interesting species such as giant seahorse and sally lightfoot crab are not to be overlooked, although a rather elongated penguin enclosure has already proven to be the guest favorite. Throughout the exhibit are a series of interpretive displays detailing work done by the zoo in the region, as well as a particularly interesting room explaining the effects of plastic waste in the ocean. Not often are zoos willing to break the mold nowadays, but here is one that proves creativity pays off and showcases an interesting alternative for the future.
@nczoofan
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@TheImmigrant1
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1. California Sea Lion Exhibit
2. Galápagos Tortoise Exhibit
3. One Ocean Aquarium
4. Humboldt Penguin Exhibit
5. Grand Cayman Blue Iguana Exhibit
6. Conservation Display
7. California Sea Lion Tunnel
Similar Exhibits: None.
Thank you very much. After the success of @lintworm's thread I was hoping this thread would receive similar popularity, but I'm still shocked at how much attention this project has received. It's current around the seventh or eighth longest thread on this site and we should get into the top five very soon. It's been fun, but all good things must come to an end and it's anybody's guess what the last exhibit will be.
Knowing Galápagos Islands would be opening early this year, I actually reserved a spot for it before starting the thread. I know it seems bold to give a spot to an exhibit that wasn't even open at the time the list started, but given its significance and the reception it has received it was definitely the right call. Smithsonian's bird house was a last minute addition that replaced Toledo Zoo's aviary building, an exhibit I was wavering on.
At the halfway mark, you made a post saying there were four states with exhibits on the list that haven't been featured yet. Since then, three new states have been featured: Alaska, Maryland, and Oklahoma. So the final exhibit will be from a state that has yet to be featured, leaving still a few possibilities for options:
I actually misspoke when I said this. I should have said there that were 4 states/districts to come, which includes Smithsonian National Zoo. The final exhibit is from a zoo that has already made an appearance.
In that case, I'm slightly disappointed no New England exhibits has made the thread (and for that matter, the only two zoos from the Northeast to be mentioned at all were Bronx and NYAQ). In that regards, I think there are four strong options for the final exhibit on the thread (although I would not be surprised if it is in fact none of these), here they are ranked from least likely to most likely:
.
I think other exhibits that could potentially make the list are Asia Quest from Columbus or The Swamp from Brookfield.
