There are many beloved attractions in the city of Cincinnati and one of the best is our incredible zoo. The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is a wonderful place to visit for all ages and as the second oldest zoo in the country, it is also filled with history. Many people head here to see the animals, or maybe even the stunning gardening, but history buffs also flock to this memorable place. The zoo has a lot of interesting stories and buildings and the one with the most history is the Reptile House. Built well over 100 years ago, most people don’t know that the oldest operating zoo building in the country is right here in Cincinnati and it’s more beautiful than ever.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden opened in 1875, second only to the Philadelphia Zoo which opened a few months prior.
Photo Courtesy of Cassandre Crawford Photography
When it opened in 1875, one of its structures was also there - a building that today is called the Reptile House.
The Reptile House was built in 1875 in the Turkish style and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Youtube/ The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
This eye-catching building was once home to monkeys, but today it houses more than 35 reptile species.
Since the building was constucted in 1875, it's needed repair and some remodeling over the years.
Flickr/h2kyaks
If you visited the zoo more than seven years ago, you may remember the exterior looking like the photo above.
The exterior was redone, as was the interior. This portion began in January of 2013.
Youtube/ The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

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You can learn more about the most recent renovations in the short video clip below.
Youtube/ The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
The photo above shows the interior of the Reptile House before renovations started. Do you recognize it?
Today, the exterior is one of the first things you'll spot as you walk into the zoo - just look for the red peak of the roof.
Google/Michael Dawson
The interior is flooded with light from the now clear windows above and has an updated, more modern space for the critters that live here.
Whether or not you are a fan of the snakes, lizards, turtles, alligators, and other animals that live here, you have to admit that the historic building is eye-catching.
Flickr/Ted
When the tulips bloom in the spring, you'll find the iconic Reptile House in many of the favorite photos.
The next time you take the family to the Cincinnati Zoo, be sure to stop by the oldest zoo building in the country.
Google/Michael Dawson
Reflect on its almost century-and-a-half history and know that our city is home to a very impressive attraction that will hopefully continue to delight guests for generations to come.

See more of the Reptile House renovations from 2013 here:

The Reptile House at the Cincinnati Zoo is one of many must-see spots at this popular Queen City destination. As the oldest zoo building in the country, be sure to check out this historic structure and dare to venture inside for the reptiles and the beauty of this interesting piece of Cincinnati’s past. Did you know this fun fact about the Reptile House? What other lesser-known facts about the zoo do you know? Let us know in the comments!

For more information on the Reptile House at the Cincinnati Zoo, visit its website here.

Address: 3400 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45220

And if you do love animals, be sure to check out the variety of animal encounters you can have in the Cincinnati area, featured in our previous article here.

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