DOD Insider Tour | Denver Zoo: Architecture Past and Present

Join us for this in-person Doors Open Denver 2022 Insider Tour at the Denver Zoo. Two tour dates are available:

• Saturday, October 1, 9-10:30am
• Sunday, October 9, 9-10:30am

About the tour: Walk through Denver Zoo’s history on this tour of important habitats and architecturally significant buildings. See some of the Zoo’s oldest structures, including the original barns, Monkey Island and the iconic Bear Mountain, a naturalistic enclosure now on the National Register of Historic Places. Visit the Feline House and midcentury Giraffe House before stopping at the new Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Animal Hospital, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to animal care.

About Denver Zoo: At 126 years old, Denver Zoo is one of the oldest and most visited public institutions in Colorado, welcoming more than 1.4 million visitors annually. The experience for both visitor and animal has transformed dramatically over the course of its history. In the last century, Denver Zoo has created award-winning animal habitats, designed to optimize animal health and wellbeing, along with a state-of-the-art animal hospital. The campus is also representative of Denver’s architectural history, as the grounds feature 100 buildings of various styles, from Victorian to contemporary. With over 3,000 wild animals to house, feed and care for, the buildings are not only aesthetically pleasing, but contain highly complex operating systems to keep animals healthy and comfortable.

About the tour guide: Marie Revenew, Senior Vice President of External Relations, Denver Zoo, leads the institution’s branding, marketing, advertising, public relations and government affairs. An award-winning video producer, storyteller and brand strategist, Marie developed the strategic communications for Denver Zoo’s 125th Anniversary in 2021, diving deep into its varied history of animal care, guest experience, architectural development and philanthropic engagement. Marie studied Interior Architecture at the Art Institute of Chicago and enjoys sharing the Zoo’s architectural treasures with the public. She is currently driving Zoo-wide efforts to increase the public’s awareness of and engagement in its worldwide conservation initiatives.

Please note: While Denver Zoo is a beloved family destination, the content of this tour has been developed with adults in mind. Due to Denver Zoo safety protocols, no attendee on this tour may be under the age of 9.

Accessibility: This 90-minute walking tour will cover the Denver Zoo campus along paved walking paths. Benches for brief rest will be available along the route.