Como Park Zoo and Conservatory sits inside Como Park in Saint Paul, Minnesota, pairing a free, AZA-accredited zoo with the historic Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. The zoo traces its roots to 1897, when the city received a gift of three deer, and it has grown into one of the few major zoos in the country that charges no admission fee, relying instead on voluntary donations.
Today the zoo occupies roughly 17 acres of the much larger 759-acre Como Park and is home to around 66 species, from polar bears to primates, alongside the conservatory’s lush Palm Dome and seasonal flower shows. Together the zoo and conservatory draw an estimated 1.9 million visitors a year, making the park one of the most-visited free attractions in the Twin Cities.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Opened: 1897
- Size: About 17 acres (zoo), within 759-acre Como Park
- Species: About 66 animal species
- Annual Visitors: About 1.9 million
- Admission: Free (voluntary donation suggested)
- Famous For: Marjorie McNeely Conservatory’s Palm Dome and Cafesjian’s Carousel (1914)
What Visitors See
The zoo’s exhibits include a polar bear habitat completed in 2010, a seal and sea lion exhibit added in 2021, and an Art Deco Zoological Building dating to the 1930s WPA era. Just steps away, the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory houses a 64-foot Palm Dome along with sunken garden and fern room displays that rotate with the seasons.
Adjacent to the zoo, Cafesjian’s Carousel, built in 1914 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, and the Como Town amusement park give families additional reasons to spend a full day in the park, which also wraps around Lake Como and its 1.67-mile walking path.
A Free Zoo Since the 1800s
Como Park Zoo has never charged general admission, a policy that dates back to its founding and has made it a rare large-scale, AZA-accredited zoo that remains free to the public. The zoo depends on suggested donations, memberships, and its nonprofit partner, the Como Friends organization, to fund animal care and capital projects.
The zoo has also had its share of memorable moments, including a 1994 incident in which a gorilla named Casey briefly escaped his enclosure, an event that drew national attention and led to upgraded primate housing in the years that followed.
Explore more: Explore more top zoos and aquariums.
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory FAQs
Is Como Park Zoo and Conservatory free to visit?
Yes, admission is free, though the zoo suggests a voluntary donation of $8 per adult and $5 per child.
When did Como Zoo open?
The zoo’s origins date to 1897, when the city of Saint Paul received a gift of three deer that started its animal collection.
How many species live at Como Zoo?
The zoo is home to roughly 66 animal species, and it is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
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Photo: RxS at English Wikipedia / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.