Help Us Preserve a Legendary #1
Voting is open now for the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, and you can vote once per day, every day through March 9 on all of your devices. With your help, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium can remain the #1 Zoo in the Nation for a fourth consecutive year, while Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park earns national recognition as one of the country’s top safari experiences for its sixth year.
For more than 130 years, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium has been part of what Nebraska is known for. It is the #1 Attraction in Nebraska and a place generations have grown up with, returned to, and proudly shared with visitors from across the country.
That legacy is once again being recognized on the national stage.
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium has been nominated for the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, earning nominations for Best Zoo, Best Zoo Exhibit, and Best Zoo Membership in the nation. Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park is also nominated for Best Safari Park, placing both attractions among the very best zoological destinations in the country.
These nominations matter, but what matters more is why we continue to earn them.
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium has been named the #1 Zoo in the Nation three years in a row. That recognition does not happen by chance. It is built through decades of commitment to care, conservation, and community, and it is sustained by the people who show up, support, and believe in what these places stand for.
Our people
From animal care and veterinary teams to guest services, maintenance, education, horticulture, food service, and countless roles behind the scenes, our people are the foundation of everything we do across both attractions.
Their expertise, dedication, and pride are felt in every habitat, interaction, and guest experience. This is what it looks like when a mission is lived every day.
Our animals
We care for more than 33,000 animals, from the smallest ant to the tallest giraffe. Every animal matters. Every animal receives thoughtful, expert care.
Our teams work across disciplines to support animal wellbeing, advance welfare science, and ensure each animal thrives. The animals are at the heart of our mission and the reason behind everything we do.
Our impact
What happens here reaches far beyond Omaha.
Through global conservation partnerships, research, and field programs, our work helps protect species and habitats around the world. From amphibians and invertebrates to large mammals, this impact is driven by science, collaboration, and a deep commitment to conservation leadership.
Our community
This one is simple. You are what makes us great.
Our members, guests, donors, volunteers, and supporters are an essential part of our Zoo and Safari Park community. Your visits, curiosity, and belief in our mission power everything we do and make this recognition possible.
Help us make it four
USA TODAY's 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards are decided entirely by public vote. Every vote counts, and daily voting truly makes a difference.
Voting is open now through March 9, and you can vote once per day, every day, in each category. With your help, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium can preserve its legendary status as the #1 Zoo in the Nation for a fourth consecutive year, while Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park earns top recognition as one of the nation’s best safari experiences for its sixth consecutive year.
A place that brings people closer to animals, nature, and each other. A place Nebraska proudly stands behind.
Thank you for being part of what makes our Zoo and Safari Park exceptional.