It was estimated the entire cost of the Milwaukee County Zoo would be $5 million.  Time delays and spiraling costs inflated the original estimate to more than $12.6 million by the time the original eight buildings were complete.  The cost of the Zoo could have been even higher had it not been for the many cutbacks most buildings were forced to take.  In fact, in the original design, there was to be a separate aquarium building and a separate reptile house, but high costs forced officials to combine both buildings into one.

The Pfister Hotel hosted “Milwaukee Goes on Safari,” a Zoological Society fundraising event that kicked off its $300,000 campaign to raise money to stock and specially equip the new Milwaukee County Zoo.  The fundraiser was so successful, that it succeeded its goal by $200,000.
Also, a donation from Schlitz Brewery enabled the Zoo to purchase three white rhinoceroses, making it the first public zoo in the United States to exhibit the rare species.

Image taken by Robert Bullermann