1950 to 1959
1950: On August 17, the zoo’s new beaver and otter pool was dedicated. The new bird building was dedicated in October. The building added a new dimension in the exhibition of ornithological specimens at the zoo. New cages were installed in the zoo's main building in December, and the reptile collections moved to the basement.
1951:A teacher was assigned to the zoo by the Cleveland Board of Education. His task was to conduct animal science classes at the zoo, a living classroom.
1952:The zoo’s first tour trains began operating. They were purchased from Greyhound Lines, who had operated them at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933, and the New York World’s Fair in 1940. In the fall, a beautification program was completed in the area surrounding the bird building and waterfowl lake.
1953:An improved children’s zoo opened, featuring new rides and a small-scale fairy tale theme park.
1954: A contract to build the zoo’s new pachyderm building was awarded, with a projected cost of $600,000. It would house elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, and giraffes. A new tour train was added to the in-grounds transportation system. There was even a tour train providing transportation from the new parking area off Fulton Parkway to the zoo grounds.
1955: Friends of the Zoo funds were used to build a tropical greenhouse in which exotic plants and flowers would be propagated to provide greenery in the bird building and other areas.
1956: The new pachyderm building was dedicated on Saturday, May 19. Its appearance was enhanced by mammoth and mastodon terra-cotta reliefs, designed by Viktor Schreckengost, at the entranceways.
1957:The zoo celebrated its 75th anniversary on March 13. The newly formed Cleveland Zoological Society assumed management responsibilities of the zoo in April. One of the first projects of the Zoological Society was an improved and expanded Children’s Zoo.
1958:In January, a fund of $1,000 was set aside to study the possibility transferring the zoo to county ownership. Construction of the new Children’s Farm started in May, thanks to the Rotary Club of Cleveland.
1959:On January 19 a flood destroyed the zoo’s reptile collection. The Children’s Farm was dedicated on May 18. “Bongo Days” were celebrated in July. “Karen”, the female bongo antelope, was the world’s only bongo in human care at the time. The old ostrich house was renovated and a new wing was added to accommodate the bongo.