Roosevelt Park Zoo sits along the Souris River in Minot, North Dakota, and holds the distinction of being the oldest zoo in the state. What began in 1914 as a modest municipal menagerie with two dozen squirrels grew into a full-fledged zoo, renamed in 1922 in honor of Theodore Roosevelt following his death.
Today the zoo is home to around 160 animals representing roughly 68 species, from African lions and Amur tigers to red pandas, reticulated giraffes, and the critically endangered Amur leopard. Despite repeated flooding from the Souris River over the decades, the zoo has rebuilt and modernized, drawing well over 100,000 visitors in recent years.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Minot, North Dakota
- Opened: 1921 (as Riverside Park Zoo in 1914)
- Size: About 19 acres
- Species/Animal Count: About 160 animals, 68 species
- Annual Visitors: Over 100,000
- Famous For: Oldest zoo in North Dakota
A Century of Growth Along the Souris
The zoo’s roots trace to 1914, when the Minot park district opened a small animal display with just 12 red squirrels and 12 gray squirrels. After acquiring a bison in 1921 and a pair of lions from Minneapolis’s Longfellow Zoological Gardens in 1927, the growing collection cemented the site as a true zoo. Its location along the Souris River has brought both charm and hardship, with major floods in 1969 and 2011 forcing full animal evacuations and extensive rebuilding.
What Visitors Can See Today
Modern exhibits let guests get close to giraffes in an indoor/outdoor African Plains habitat, watch Amur tigers and brown bears, and observe penguins, timber wolves, and black-footed ferrets. The zoo’s mix of big cats, hoofstock, and smaller specialty species makes it a compact but varied stop for families touring north-central North Dakota.
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A field guide that keeps the animal spotting going on the drive home and at home.
Roosevelt Park Zoo FAQs
Where is Roosevelt Park Zoo located?
It’s in Minot, North Dakota, within Roosevelt Park along the Souris River.
How old is Roosevelt Park Zoo?
It traces back to 1914 and was formally established as Roosevelt Park Zoo in 1921-1922, making it the oldest zoo in North Dakota.
How many animals live at the zoo?
The zoo cares for roughly 160 animals across about 68 species, including lions, tigers, giraffes, and red pandas.
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Photo: Airman 1st Class Justin Armstrong / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.