The Story
The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium has been a fixture of Highland Park since 1898, making it one of only six major zoo and aquarium combinations in the United States. Spread across 77 acres, the zoo is home to over 8,000 animals representing hundreds of species from around the world.
The zoo's exhibits include the PPG Aquarium, the African Savanna, the Asian Forest, and Kids Kingdom. Its conservation programs support endangered species worldwide, and the zoo's education department serves hundreds of thousands of students and families each year through camps, classes, and field trips.
Recent investments have modernized the zoo's facilities and animal habitats, ensuring that the institution remains a world-class destination for wildlife education and conservation. The Pittsburgh Zoo is independently operated, one of the few major American zoos not managed by a municipal government.
What Makes It Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Zoo is a Highland Park landmark and a rite of passage for every Pittsburgh kid. The zoo has been creating memories for over 125 years, and its location in one of the city's most beautiful parks makes a visit as much about enjoying Pittsburgh's green spaces as seeing animals.
Highland Park itself, designed by Pittsburgh's great landscape architects, provides a stunning natural setting for the zoo. The combination of urban parkland, mature trees, and world-class animal exhibits makes the Pittsburgh Zoo a uniquely pleasant experience compared to concrete-heavy big-city zoos.