America's Top 100 Zoos & Aquariums

Not sure when Tinopup ordered, but I ordered before the book was released and it just came this past Friday (12/27). It may take awhile unfortunately.

 

It might interest some readers to look at the breakdown of the 80 zoos and 20 aquariums in terms of U.S. states. When Tim and I chose our final list of facilities for the book we did not take into account any sort of geographical bias. We simply whittled down the list of 800 'zoos' in the USA to the very best without ever attempting to include one zoo from each state. In our essay on Great Plains Zoo (South Dakota) we state that the establishment "has substantial geographical significance" simply because it "exists at the eastern edge of a vast swathe of land made up of four states (Wyoming, Montana, North and South Dakota) that are comparatively unpopulated and relatively barren when it comes to zoological gardens", but at the end of the day Great Plains Zoo made the book strictly on merit.

37 U.S. states + District of Columbia are represented in the book.

So, if a zoo nerd from Europe wanted to travel across the pond and visit the very best zoos and aquariums in the USA, what states should be highlighted? Look no farther than California and Texas, which combine for 25 out of the 100 establishments in the book.

California = 13: San Diego Zoo + San Diego Zoo Safari Park + Los Angeles + Fresno Chaffee + Living Desert + Oakland + San Francisco + Santa Barbara + Sacramento + Monterey Bay Aquarium + Aquarium of the Pacific + California Academy of Sciences + SeaWorld San Diego

Texas = 12: Dallas + Houston + Fort Worth + San Antonio + Cameron Park + Caldwell + El Paso + Gladys Porter + Dallas World Aquarium + Moody Gardens + Texas State Aquarium + SeaWorld San Antonio

Florida = 7: Miami + Jacksonville + Lowry Park + Disney's Animal Kingdom + Busch Gardens + Florida Aquarium + SeaWorld Orlando

New York = 5: Bronx + Rosamond Gifford + Buffalo + Central Park + New York Aquarium

Ohio = 5: Columbus + Cincinnati + Cleveland + Toledo + Akron

Arizona = 4: Phoenix + ASDM + Wildlife World + Reid Park

Tennessee = 4: Memphis + Nashville + Knoxville + Tennessee Aquarium

Illinois = 3: Brookfield + Lincoln Park + Shedd Aquarium

Kansas = 3: Sedgwick County + Tanganyika + Topeka

Michigan = 3: Detroit + Binder Park + John Ball

Washington = 3: Woodland Park + Point Defiance + Seattle Aquarium

Alabama = 2: Birmingham + Montgomery

Colorado = 2: Denver + Cheyenne Mountain

Georgia = 2: Atlanta + Georgia Aquarium

Indiana = 2: Indianapolis + Fort Wayne

Maryland = 2: Maryland + National Aquarium

Minnesota = 2: Minnesota + Como Park

Missouri = 2: Saint Louis + Kansas City

Oklahoma = 2: Oklahoma City + Tulsa

Oregon = 2: Oregon + Oregon Coast Aquarium

Pennsylvania = 2: Philadelphia + Pittsburgh

Wisconsin = 2: Milwaukee County + Henry Vilas

Arkansas = 1: Little Rock

Connecticut = 1: Mystic Aquarium

Hawaii = 1: Honolulu

Kentucky = 1: Louisville

Louisiana = 1: Audubon

Massachusetts = 1: New England Aquarium

Nebraska = 1: Omaha

New Jersey = 1: Adventure Aquarium

New Mexico = 1: Rio Grande

North Carolina = 1: North Carolina

Rhode Island = 1: Roger Williams Park

South Carolina = 1: Riverbanks

South Dakota = 1: Great Plains

Utah = 1: Utah’s Hogle

Virginia = 1: Virginia

District of Columbia = 1 (not a true U.S. state) – Smithsonian’s National Zoo

There are 13 U.S. states with 0 zoos in the book: Alaska, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.

 

Yes but I believe Alaska does make it in the list of 20 best specialist facilities in the back of the book.

It should also be pointed out (in case someone does visit from another country) that Texas and California are geographically two of the biggest states, larger than many countries. You will need to plan accordingly for travel time. And I don't mean travel time at demoniac speeds like a certain Canadian who shall remain nameless; I mean real world travel times.

When I did my book Zoos of the Southwest I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of Texas zoos and particularly surprised at the good small town zoos in Waco (Cameron Park) and Tyler (Caldwell).

 

Just got the book today. I truly think this is the best book on American zoos out there (not to discredit @ANyhuis 's book, which is also good). I'd like to thank everyone who had a hand in creating this book for making something outstanding.

 

I know Iowa doesn't exactly have a world class facility, but I hoped Blank Park would make it into the back.

Just also wanted to say this book is splendid! I'm learning so much and it's definitely an incredible guide!

 

The back is top 20 specialist facilities. What does Blank Park specialize in that makes it have something standard zoos don't have? (Not being sarcastic, this is an honest question as I have not been there).

 

Depends what you mean by specialize

By rare species it does have a few interesting ones including eland, plumbed whistling ducks, Australian wood ducks, and silver eared meisas.

In terms of unique exhibits they have the Discovery Center which is a rainforest/aquarium.

And in terms of successful breeders, they have giraffe, snow monkey, black rhino, and lion programs.

The main attractions of this zoo is the main "Discovery Center" with tropical birds, coral reef fish, red pandas, caimans, ect., the Australian walk with wallabies, emus, cassowaries and birds, a large children's zoo, an African Exhibit with giraffes, zebras, eland, rhinos, watusi and I believe okapi, howeverI believe the one that had is dead, lions, tigers, snow monkeys, penguins, and seals/sea lions

I know it's not the most exciting zoo, and I honestly sometimes am embarrassed to say it's my "local" zoo. I live in a relatively rural community and most of the folks here very rarely visit zoos, but when they do it's always Omaha. (We're pretty much stuck in the middle of these two cities.) I would much rather prefer to say Omaha is my "local zoo" due to the fact it's "world class", but I still have fond memories of going to this medium sized zoo when we'd visit our grandparents before moving here. I was just expecting it to get in due to the fact is was in the "best of the rest" in America's Best Zoos. However, times have changed and defiantly some smaller zoos have rose to the top.

 

I'm interested with what Snowleopard said about Henry Vilas Zoo.

 

I guess you need to buy the book then.

 

Guess so.

 

Just got my copy. Read all the way up to Columbus and so far, fantastic work from the authors! I really appreciate how high quality the book feels in both its stylish and professional presentation, plus the smorgasbord of info on every page. So far easy 10/10.

 

OMG! I had given it up as lost! Now, just when I have an excruciatingly busy five days coming up away, I want nothing more than to binge-read.... If I can only force myself to leave it at home and reward myself for a solid day next Tuesday!

 

Is there a link to order this in the US? I would love to purchase this book, and every link I can find online seems to lead me to a European link.

 

Then I'd better pack for Europe

 

If you go to this website:

http://www.izes.co.uk/

It takes less than 60 seconds to order the book anywhere in the world via PayPal, debit card or any major credit card. It's a piece of cake to order the book and probably 50 copies have already been shipped to the USA...including to the homes of at least 5 current or ex-Zoo Directors. The postage is 5 pounds for the U.K, 10 pounds for Europe and 15 pounds for the 'rest of the world'. It's irrelevant where a zoo enthusiast lives in terms of getting the book, with the only difference being the cost of postage. The book has already been shipped to probably 20 different states in the U.S. and so if you would like a copy then order one and eventually a book will be on your doorstep in Connecticut...and your 'local' Mystic Aquarium is in there!

 

I just received my copy in the mail today, I'm excited! I ordered it 1/11/20 and received it 1/21/20 so it was only a 10 day wait to my home in California!

 

I thought you had received yours already! My second copy arrived yesterday, ordered only a week before.

 

Lol. Now you're just showing off or rubbing it in!

 

It seems as if the Christmas 'hustle and bustle' created a logjam in terms of parcels being shipped around the world. Now that @geomorph received his copy in California in 10 days, someone else this morning told me that the book took 60 seconds to order and 14 days to arrive in eastern Texas. If you live in the U.S. it's simple to obtain a copy However, if price is an issue or you don't have much money in your bank account then save your cash. Publications are luxuries that not everyone can afford, although this one makes a great reference book and can be re-read over and over again. If you missed it as a Christmas present, maybe get it for your birthday...haha!

It's exciting that some American zoos have gradually taken an interest, with at least one copy going to each of the following zoos: Sacramento, Great Plains, Fort Worth, Houston, Roger Williams, Philadelphia and the Bronx having copies. Only 93 more zoos to go! It was also great to receive nice remarks from Lee Durrell and find out that Rick Barongi has ordered a book...it's a growing list of zoo 'luminaries' that now own what Tim and I produced. I'll keep poking this thread along to maintain interest...