Named after the Zoologischer Garten, Berlin's zoo across the square.
The zoo opened on 1 August 1844 as the ninth zoo in Europe, on part of the royal pheasantry by the Tiergarten; it is the oldest zoo still existing in Germany. The station opened on 7 February 1882 together with the Stadtbahn. Known simply as Bahnhof Zoo, it was West Berlin's most important hub for long-distance passenger trains during the city's division.