At the beginning of this year, @lintworm began what’s arguably the best written ZooChat thread of all time. Now as we arrive at the end of the year, it's time to follow it up with another spiritual successor. Ever since I finished America’s 50 Must See Zoos, I’ve been slowly working on the sequel: America’s 100 Must See Exhibits. I found it was a much greater challenge working on this project, so I am extremely excited to finally get this started. With so many different types of exhibits to choose from, it’s slightly more subjective what constitutes as “must-see” and if we all drafted up a list no two would be the same. The word "exhibit" is used in the broadest possible sense of the term. It could be anything from a single obscure aviary to a large complex consisting of many enclosures. The US is well known for spending tens of millions of dollars to construct new exhibits, but expensive mega-complexes won’t dominate the list. I’m anticipating that even those who frequent the US forums will be unaware of at least several selections which will make this all the more interesting. Roughly 50 zoos are represented on this list, with about half of them having more than one entry. There’s a notion that American zoos generally feel more similar to one another than their counterparts across the pond, but that greatly undersells the amount of unique and creative exhibits they do have to offer. The US has some of the greatest diversity in biomes and climate anywhere in the world, which enables the creation of exhibits that wouldn’t be possible in many European nations. Like Europe’s 100 Must See Exhibits, the order exhibits will be presented is completely random, but no zoo will have two exhibits featured back to back. Additionally, I will be doing a few bonus posts every now and then which will touch on certain topics involving “must-see” exhibits, although I will be keeping those a secret for now. Every exhibit profile will also include a brief look at similar exhibits if there are any, so by the time this thread is complete there will end up being many more than just 100 exhibits given the spotlight. With all that said, let’s get this show on the road!
Here is the full index ordered alphabetically by state/district. Alaska Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Bear Exhibits (52) Arizona Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Desert Loop Trail (97) Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Life on the Rocks (34) Phoenix Zoo, Desert Lives (25) California California Academy of Sciences, Osher Rainforest (93) Los Angeles Zoo, LAIR (75) Monterey Bay Aquarium, Into the Deep: Exploring our Undiscovered Oceans (83) Monterey Bay Aquarium, Kelp Forest (27) Oakland Zoo, California Trail (65) San Diego Zoo, Africa Rocks (90) San Diego Zoo, Elephant Odyssey (60) San Diego Zoo, Gharial Pond (5) San Diego Zoo, Hummingbird Habitat (69) San Diego Zoo, Monkey Trails and Forest Tales (10) San Diego Zoo, Scripps Aviary (45) San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Condor Ridge (18) San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Field Exhibits (42) San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Walkabout Australia (88) The Living Desert, Rhino Savanna (79) Colorado Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, African Rift Valley (36) Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Waters Edge: Africa (77) Denver Zoo, Predator Ridge (64) Denver Zoo, Toyota Elephant Passage (41) District of Columbia Smithsonian’s National Zoo, Asia Trail (72) Smithsonian’s National Zoo, Bird House (91) Florida Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Kilimanjaro Safari (12) Zoo Miami, Amazon and Beyond (96) Zoo Miami, Florida: Mission Everglades (86) Zoo Miami, Wings of Asia (51) Georgia Georgia Aquarium, Ocean Voyager (50) Zoo Atlanta, Scaly Slimy Spectacular (54) Illinois Brookfield Zoo, Regenstein Wolf Woods (59) Brookfield Zoo, Tropic World (17) Lincoln Park Zoo, Pepper Family Wildlife Center (24) Lincoln Park Zoo, Regenstein Center for African Apes (68) Shedd Aquarium, Abbott Oceanarium (31) Shedd Aquarium, Amazon Rising (40) Shedd Aquarium, Wild Reef (61) Indiana Indianapolis Zoo, International Orangutan Center (39) Indianapolis Zoo, St. Vincent Dolphin Pavillion (3) Maryland Maryland Zoo, Penguin Coast (71) National Aquarium, Australia: Wild Extremes (56) Michigan Detroit Zoo, Arctic Ring of Life (29) Detroit Zoo, National Amphibian Conservation Center (14) Detroit Zoo, Penguin Conservation Center (76) Minnesota Minnesota Zoo, Russia’s Grizzly Coast (19) Minnesota Zoo, Tiger Base Camp + Tiger Lair (7) Missouri Kansas City Zoo, Chimpanzee Exhibit (33) Saint Louis Zoo, 1904 World’s Fair Flight Cage (74) Saint Louis Zoo, Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium (9) Saint Louis Zoo, Penguin and Puffin Coast (37) Saint Louis Zoo, Red Rocks (70) Saint Louis Zoo, Rivers Edge (28) Nebraska Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, African Grasslands (55) Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, Asian Highlands (84) Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, Desert Dome (15) Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, Kingdoms of the Night (30) Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, Lied Jungle (63) Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, Sea Lion Shores (46) Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium (94) New York Bronx Zoo, Congo Gorilla Forest (73) Bronx Zoo, Gelada Reserve (21) Bronx Zoo, Jungle World (81) Bronx Zoo, Madagascar (6) Bronx Zoo, Mouse House (49) Bronx Zoo, Wild Asia Monorail (95) Bronx Zoo, World of Birds (1) New York Aquarium, Ocean Wonders: Sharks (89) North Carolina Duke Lemur Center, Lemur Forests (38) North Carolina Zoo, Watani Grasslands Reserve (32) Ohio Cincinnati Zoo, Elephant House (53) Cincinnati Zoo, Reptile House (98) Cincinnati Zoo, World of the Insect (43) Columbus Zoo, Heart of Africa (4) Columbus Zoo, Manatee Coast (92) Columbus Zoo, Migratory Songbird Aviary (62) Toledo Zoo, Promedica Museum of Natural History (11) Oklahoma Oklahoma City Zoo, Oklahoma Trails (85) Oregon Oregon Coast Aquarium, Seabird Aviary (23) Tennessee Memphis Zoo, CHINA (48) Memphis Zoo, Teton Trek (100) Memphis Zoo, Zambezi River Hippo Camp (67) Nashville Zoo, Expedition Peru: Trek of the Andean Bear (2) Nashville Zoo, Gibbon Islands (57) Nashville Zoo, Unseen New World (80) Tennessee Aquarium, Appalachian Cove Forest (78) Zoo Knoxville, Black Bear Falls (35) Texas Dallas Zoo, Giants of the Savanna (20) Fort Worth Zoo, Museum of Living Art (58) Houston Zoo, Galapagos Islands (99) Houston Zoo, McNair Asian Elephant Habitat (13) Houston Zoo, South America’s Pantanal (22) Washington Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Cat Exhibits (87) Woodland Park Zoo, Gorilla Exhibit (47) Woodland Park Zoo, Jaguar Cove (66) Woodland Park Zoo, Living Northwest Trail (16) Wisconsin Henry Vilas Zoo, Wisconsin Heritage (8) International Crane Foundation, Whooping Crane Alcove (44) Milwaukee County Zoo, Predator and Prey Exhibits (82) Racine Zoo, Stork Aviary (26) Bonus Posts Bonus Post #1 - Remembering the Past: Former Exhibits that were 'Must-see' Bonus Post #2 - Just out of Reach: 'Must-see' Exhibits in Canadian Zoos Bonus Post #3 - What Could've Been: Canceled Exhibits that would have been 'Must-see' Bonus Post #4 - Looking Towards the Future: Upcoming Exhibits that may be 'Must-see'
1. World of Birds Bronx Zoo, NY Opened: 1972 Size: 30,000 Square Feet (2,800 Square Meters) Inhabitants: Roughly 120 species of bird as well as Bolivian Gray Titi Monkey, Greater Malayan Chevrotain, and a few tortoise species. Composed of various cylindrical towers bearing an eye-catching brutalist design, World of Birds holds one of the most comprehensive bird collections anywhere in the zoological world. Rare species are brought in frequently and with over 20 individual habitats across two floors, the diversity of the house is incredible. The darkened visitor hallways discourage the birds from flying out of their naturally lit habitats which allows several exhibits to be completely open without any mesh or glass obscuring the view - a concept the zoo pioneered. The displays are extremely visually appealing thanks to excellent furnishings and in general the attention to detail with planting and rockwork reaches the exceptional standards Bronx is famous for. Some of the most notable displays include the bee-eater aviary featuring live feeding presentations, the densely planted maleo aviary, and the scrubland enclosure. The two-story walkthrough aviaries for African and South American birds are obvious highlights as well. There are also some outdoor enclosures for larger birds like emu and a few crane species adjacent to the building that are nondescript, but spacious. It's worth mentioning that the interpretive imagery here is top-notch, with displays on bird mortality, predation, and a memorial to species which have gone the way of the dodo. As unusual as this house appears on the outside, it has proven to be greatly ahead of its time and just over 50 years after its opening it is still one of the world's premiere bird houses. @gulogulogulo @ThylacineAlive @twilighter @ThylacineAlive @ThylacineAlive @ThylacineAlive @ThylacineAlive Similar Exhibits: World of Birds set a new standard for what a bird house can be and even buildings that predate it have learned some lessons from its design. One that stands out in particular is the bird house at Lincoln Park Zoo. This alluring historical building will soon be turning 120 years old and while the exterior has been carefully maintained, the interior was overhauled and is now filled with bright and airy bird habitats. Several different barriers are used and there is an intentional lack of corners which helps the murals better blend in with the enclosures. There are other impressive bird houses in the US, but they will be addressed later on. @geomorph @pachyderm pro @pachyderm pro @pachyderm pro
Oh boy, here we go again! (Was starting the thread right before the New Year to disqualify this thread from the thread of the year on purpose?)
2023 arrived early with a very promising start ! Thank you for investing in this massive undertaking and looking forward to your Images of America version
The McCormick Bird House comparison is great, it is the exhibit I was constantly reminded of when reading about WOB. The signage from the wonderful pictures recently uploaded by @ThylacineAlive, however, is much better than LPZ's. WOB seems to have some of the best signage I've seen, it looks as if an encyclopedia has been laid out across its walls.
I've been waiting for this This thread looks super promising, I can't wait to see what you have in store.
The original plan was to start it on January first to ring in the new year, but I decided to get it started earlier for a few different reasons: I'm on holiday, it's currently -5° where I live, and I was bored. Instead of this being a New Years celebration, consider this an early Christmas present. I mentioned this on @MRJ's Uganda travel thread where this change was requested, but for next year’s TotY competition I'm extending the deadline so that any thread created after December 15th of any given year will be eligible for the following year’s competition. So this one will be eligible for nomination, but we have a long year ahead of ourselves so anything can happen.
While they are both undeniably cool species, I cannot see how they can possibly the highlights of a house jam-packed with rare birds.
Ah, that explains the ambitious threads starting so early. I'm not complaining, it's been in the negatives (F°) downstate too
Great first choice. Was there last week and sadly they are renovating the walkways to the second floor this winter, as the concrete was cracking (at least they are giving the building a bright future). Despite this the building was wonderful as ever, with such an attention to detail and exhibits that stand the test of time. Excited to see what other zoo exhibits you showcase.
I don't think I will ever watch over a thread with as much excitement as I will watch over this one. The first entry is wonderful -- you have a gift for description and you choose your gallery images well, as was seen in your previous thread.
Another thread? You're riding on lintworm way too much! Just kidding. I'm wondering though would some "lesser zoo" feature in this? in lintworm thread there are some underappreciated gems which very few people have been. (and i wonder will CMZ reptile house with their lamp gecko feature lol)
With American zoos this is probably harder since so many more American zoos seem to go unvisited on this site compared to European ones, but yes, there will be. I'm honestly not sure what the point of this list would be without some obscure picks.
