Located in White River State Park downtown, The Indianapolis Zoo proudly celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2004. Since opening in 1964, the Indianapolis Zoo has grown into a world-class facility hosting a million visitors each year and playing a major role in worldwide conservation and research, including accomplishing the world’s first successful artificial insemination of an African elephant.  The Indianapolis Zoo is located in White River State Park downtown and is the only attraction accredited by the  Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the American Association of Museums as a zoo, an aquarium and a botanic garden.  Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. Click here for information on accessibility.

The Indianapolis Zoo Art and Nature programming is supported by the Arts Council of Indianapolis and the City of Indianapolis.
Photo by Sandi Sookoo.
Continued (includes History of the Zoo)...

White River Gardens continues the Indianapolis Zoo’s mission of connecting animals, plants and people.  This stunningly beautiful 3.3-acre landmark botanical attraction combines the best of gardening ideas, plant information and inspirational design to serve the needs of all visitors.  With over one thousand plant varieties on display plus entertaining special exhibits throughout the year, White River Gardens is an international showplace for Indiana where visitors can enjoy and learn about the bounty of the natural world.  Whether collecting plant information from the resource room, staging a wedding in the most attractive location in the city, or simply strolling through the one and a half miles of flowered pathways, visitors to the Gardens will be inspired, impressed, enlivened and entertained. Click here for information on accessibility.

The Indianapolis Zoo Art and Nature programming is supported by the Arts Council of Indianapolis and the City of Indianapolis.

Continued (includes History of the Gardens)...

The Indianapolis Prize
The world's largest animal conservation award to a single person - is making news worldwide.  Learn more about the endangered species of the world and the people who are helping to save them.

Current Hilbert Conservatory Show
Come and experience the beauty of the fall colors in the outside DeHaan Tiergarten while the Conservatory is getting prepared for its new holiday show, Woodland Wonderland presented by Community Health Network, part of Christmas at the Zoo.  The show opens on December 4 and runs through December 30.

Zoo Grounds Map
Download a pdf printable copy of the Zoo map for 2009.  Please note this is a large pdf file.  Special thanks to Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance for sponsoring the 2009 Zoo map.

White River Gardens Map
Use our  interactive map of the White River Gardens.

Zoo Exhibits and Animal Information
Take a look at what the Indianapolis Zoo has to offer! You will learn more about how the Zoo exhibits its plant and animal collections and what animals you will see when you visit the Zoo. Look for the special panoramic views of selected biomes!

The Gardens
Take a look at what the White River Gardens has to offer! You will learn more about the Gardens' exhibits you can expect to see during your visit.

NOTE:  Please take the time to assist in research involving the nesting habits of the North America bumble bee.  To fill out a short survey, click here.   Thank you!

Plants at the Zoo
The plant collection at the Indianapolis Zoo is a vital part of how we choose to exhibit our animal collection, and in fact, the Zoo is accredited as a habitat botanical garden. Learn more about horticulture at the Zoo!

What's Blooming at the Gardens
The What's Blooming articles have concluded for 2009, but you can click here to find out what happened this past summer.  It's a great way to get home gardening tips from Mary Welch-Keesey, Purdue Consumer Horticulture Specialist.

Zoo Web Cams
Check out the animals as they go about their daily activities.

Speaker's Bureau
Book a Zoo speaker for your next meeting or event & get the "inside scoop."

Dick Crum Resource Center
What's your gardening question? How to care for your lawn? When to prune the hydrangea? What to do for a sick tree? Answers to all these questions, and more, can be found at the Resource Center.