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Columbus Zoo and Aquarium company history timeline

1927

The present Columbus Zoo opened in 1927 as Riverside Park on 21-acres by the O'Shaughnessy Reservoir.

1932

The present Columbus Zoo opened in 1927 as Riverside Park on 21-acres by the O'Shaughnessy Reservoir. Its first building housed lions and tigers and was completed in 1932.

1986

The city continued providing funds from the city's general fund, however, until 1986.

1992

His enthusiasm, along with his national television recognition, helped attract more visitors to the zoo, with over 1.4 million visitors annually by 1992.

1999

In 1999, the Manatee Coast opened and the zoo changed its name to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

2004

In 2004, voters passed a measure that would raise an estimated $180 million to expand the zoo over 10 years.

2008

A new entrance was constructed along the new roadway, which opened in early 2008.

2009

On June 28, 2009, Jeff Swanagan, the executive director of the zoo, died suddenly at the age of 51.

2017

When she died in January, 2017, at the age of 60, she was the oldest gorilla in human care.

2021

In August 2021, filmmakers of the documentary "Conservation Game" claimed that the Columbus Zoo and its former director, Jack Hanna, misrepresented where animals were acquired from, violating strict animal care standards and ethics policies for accredited facilities.

In December 2021, Tom Schmidt became the president and CEO of the Columbus Zoo.

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Founded
1927
Company founded
Headquarters
Powell, OH
Company headquarter
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Columbus Zoo and Aquarium competitors

Company nameFounded dateRevenueEmployee sizeJob openings
Oregon Coast Aquarium1992$10.0M848
San Antonio Zoo1914$19.0M27218
Lincoln Park Zoo1868$38.9M3392
San Francisco Zoo1954$25.4M179-
Tulsa Zoo1928$15.6M607
Wildlife Safari-$3.0M56-
Cincinnati Zoo1875$49.4M48411
Saint Louis Zoo1910$770,0002033
The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium1900$56.0M7504
Woodland Park Zoo1899$42.4M413-

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium history FAQs

Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and its employees or that of Zippia.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium may also be known as or be related to COLUMBUS ZOOLOGICAL PARK ASSOCIATION, Columbus Zoo, Columbus Zoo And Aquarium and Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.