• 1892  —  Washington Park Location
• Late 1950's   —  Bluemound Road Location

10001 West Blue Mound Road
Milwaukee, Wisconsin   53226

January 2 – February / November & December 2009
Monday – Friday 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

March 1 – May 22, 2009
Daily 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

May 23 – September 7, 2009
Daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

September 8 – October 31, 2009
Daily 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Open 365 days per year

January 1 – March 31 and November – December 2009
Adult: $10.75 Child (3 to 12): $7.75 Child (2 and under): FREE Senior Citizen (60+): $9.25 Bus Parking: $14 Parking: $10

April 1 – October 31, 2009
Adult: $12.25 Child (3 to 12): $9.25 Child (2 and under): FREE
Senior Citizen (60+): $11.25 Bus Parking: $14 Parking: $10

Milwaukee County residents with I.D. receive $1.75 off regular Zoo admission every day. Every Wednesday, Milwaukee County residents with I.D. are admitted at a reduced rate of $7 for adults and $4.50 for juniors.

• County owned and operated
• Supported by Zoological Society of Milwaukee County

Divisions include: Animal Management and Health, Administration and Finance, Public Affairs and Services, and Operations.

All animal buildings and exhibits are accessible to the handicapped. The Zoo adheres to the ADA.

The Zoological Society's Education Department provides guided and self-guided tours to school and youth groups, day camps for individual youth, family programs and adult workshops.

200 acres

The original Zoo was designed by the following: the Milwaukee County Planning Department (now called Architectural Engineering), the Milwaukee County Landscape Architect, the professional Zoo staff and private architecture firms.

To inspire public understanding, support and participation in global conservation of animal species and their natural environment by creating a unifying bond between our visitors and the living earth.

The Milwaukee County Zoo began in the 1890's as a miniature mammal and bird display in a barn at what is now Washington Park. By 1902, the Zoo had 23 acres of land and 800 animals. In 1937, when all parks went under the jurisdiction of the Milwaukee County Park Commission, the Zoo had grown to 38 acres. In the 1950's, the Zoo was moved to its present 200-acre location bordered by Highway 45, Blue Mound Road , Highway 100 and Interstate 94.

The Zoo receives funding through a cooperative effort of Milwaukee County and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County.

Zoo Pride is the volunteer auxiliary of the Zoological Society. Its members serve as goodwill ambassadors at the Zoo and in the community. Started in 1975, Zoo Pride shares a deep commitment to the Milwaukee County Zoo and its residents.

It began in the 1890's, as an informal group of clubs and associations. The Society started by buying animals and securing Zoo animal donations.

Today, the Society helps Milwaukee promote one of its finest assets by funding animal acquisitions, fundraising campaigns for building renovations and improvements, new exhibits and financial support for research and educational programs.

Created in the early 1990’s, Apes of Africa is an exhibit of Western lowland gorillas and bonobos. Designed to closely represent the West African rain forest, it provides gorillas and bonobos with surroundings similar to their natural environment. The Zoo is now home to 21 bonobos, which is the largest captive group of this species in the world.

The primate building, fondly called the Monkey House by many, was the Zoo's first building. In 1993, the building reopened to the public after extensive renovation as Primates of the World. It houses many of the most popular residents at the Zoo, including orangutans, siamangs and spider monkeys.

The Primate Complex was a $10.7 million project equally funded by the Milwaukee County Zoo and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County.

Ostriches, African lions, hyenas, zebras, black rhinos, giraffes and hippopotamus are among the African wildlife featured.

The Zoo simulates nature by seeming to exhibit predator and prey in the same enclosure. However, the prey is protected from its stalkers by invisible dry moats weaved between the foreground and background exhibit areas.

In the African Waterhole, antelope, Chapman’s zebra, ostrich and stork live in close proximity to the African lions. Also, the African savanna displays the cheetah overlooking the Thompson's gazelles, impalas and crowned cranes.

In 2006, the Zoo unveiled a renovated Giraffe Exhibit – MillerCoors Giraffe Experience. The exhibit features expanded indoor and outdoor spaces for the animals, and the rare opportunity for visitors to get face to face with our three reticulated giraffes. The public also can feed these animals for a fee.

Idabel Wilmot Borchert
Flamingo Exhibit and Overlook:

Experience a ride on an authentic, turn-of-the-century classic carousel. Detailed, hand-crafted Bradley and Kaye figures including giraffes, zebras, ostriches and tigers are patterned from originals dating back to the early 1900's.

The carousel is located across from Zoo Terrace near the train station (handicapped accessible).

Birds, birds everywhere! We invite visitors to meet more than 1,000 beautiful birds native to Australia, through our summer exhibit. Surround yourself with Eastern Rosellas, boasting feathers of almost every color of the rainbow, Grass Parakeets, displaying striking green and yellow hues and Cockatiels, featuring distinctive crests of feathers on their heads which they’re able to move up and down.

The exhibit lands at the Zoo May 23, and runs through September 7; cost is $2.00 per person after regular Zoo admission.

All birds on display are seedeaters, and guests may purchase special feed sticks. Notice how their short, thick, cone-shaped beaks are uniquely adapted to remove the outer seed coverings.

Don’t miss this spectacular exhibit, as Wings from Down Under takes flight at the Zoo!