The Conservatory's glass dome was originally designed and built in the early 20th century to replace an older wooden greenhouse structure.
The zoo's polar bear exhibit includes a specialized system to chill the water and provide ice for the bears during summer months.
Como Park Zoo is one of the few zoos in the United States that maintains free general admission through a city-funded tax model.
The Fern Room within the conservatory contains species that have remained largely unchanged in appearance since the Carboniferous period.
The site hosts an annual Japanese Lantern Lighting Festival in the park area adjacent to the gardens.
The conservatory building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is a free-admission municipal institution located within Saint Paul's Como Regional Park. The site features the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, a Victorian-style glass-domed building constructed in 1915 that houses permanent botanical collections. The zoo grounds contain a mix of indoor and outdoor exhibits, including the Polar Bear Odyssey, an African hoofed animal range, and a primate house. The facility operates as a partnership between the City of Saint Paul and the Como Friends non-profit organization. Botanical highlights include the Sunken Garden, which features rotating seasonal flower displays throughout the year. The grounds are integrated into a larger park system that includes a lake, a golf course, and a carousel.
The center of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory’s Sunken Garden, looking toward the glass dome.
Visit the Sunken Garden early in the morning to avoid crowds and get better lighting for photography.
Check the website for daily enrichment schedules to see animal keepers interacting with the zoo residents.
Wear comfortable walking shoes as the campus spans several acres of varied terrain.
Avoid visiting during extreme heat or sub-zero winter temperatures as many outdoor animal exhibits may be closed or the animals moved to indoor holding.
Open daily year-round; the conservatory may close early on select holidays.
Maintain a quiet volume near animal enclosures to avoid distressing the wildlife; do not feed the animals.
