Making the Zoo Great

One of the ways we’re making our Zoo great is through the Heart of the Zoo campaign – an ambitious, multi-year public-private partnership that combines support from state resources with that of the private sector to create new exhibits and amenities, innovative educational programs and facilities, and new conservation initiatives.

If you’ve been to the Woodland Adventure, explored the Zoo’s new Russia’s Grizzly Coast exhibit or walked along the refurbished Medtronic Minnesota Trail, you’ve already seen a few examples of what the Heart of the Zoo campaign has accomplished.

With the additional investments and upgrades that the Heart of the Zoo campaign will deliver, the Minnesota Zoo truly will become a world-class education, conservation and recreation institution that benefits all Minnesotans.

Join Minnesotans for a Great Zoo for progress updates and information on how you can get involved in supporting the Heart of the Zoo campaign.  

Heart of the Zoo: Enhanced and Expanded Experiences for Everyone

Phase I: 2010-2012

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Penguin Exhibit

The first phase enhances education programs, creates new animal exhibits, and improves the overall experience for visitors.

Features of this phase include:  

• Penguins of the African Coast Exhibit
• Cargill Environmental Learning Center
• Target Learning Center – a repurposing of the Zoo’s long vacant whale pool
• New South Entry

 

Phase II: 2012-2014

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Visitor Center

The second phase extends the Zoo experience to the moment visitors arrive and continues the expansion of animal exhibits.

Features of this phase include:

• New Visitors Center – a central gathering space with improved amenities and services and a gateway to exhibits
• African Kopje Exhibit
• New Snow Monkey Exhibit

 

Phase III: 2014-2015

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Bison and prairie dogs

The third phase rounds out the project by adding wildlife to the new entrance, including bison, elk, prairie dogs and cranes.