10 Fascinating Things You Probably Didn’t Know About The Como Park Zoo & Conservatory In Minnesota
One of Minnesota’s favorite attractions by far is Como Park, 384 acres of paradise in Saint Paul. Most popular in the park are undoubtedly the Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. We’ve all been countless times to admire the adorable animals and stunning flowers, but how much do we actually know about those places? We rounded up 10 awesome facts that might give you a better appreciation for all the history behind the park and work that went into making the zoo and gardens so magnificent.
1. Como Zoo actually started in 1897 when the city of Saint Paul was gifted 3 deer and needed somewhere fenced off to put them.
3. The zoo is in Polar Bears International’s network of Arctic Ambassador Centers and have sent teens to Churchill, Manitoba to see polar bears in their natural habitat as a part of Polar Bears International’s Leadership Camp.
8. The McNeely Conservatory is a U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service designated plant rescue center for plants under threat of extinction. Saving nature's species, one flower at a time.
10. In 1962, a hailstorm hit Saint Paul that was so strong, the golf ball sized hailstones crashed through the conservatory ceiling shattering nearly half of the glass!
Minnesota staff writer for Only in Your State and owner of Minnesota blog NorthGuide.co, I'm a Minneapolis transplant who loves my cats, camera, and local coffee. On the weekends I'm usually exploring the North Shore or making my way through the list of Minnesota's State Parks. Want to talk about MN or ask me a question? Tweet me @sotafiedjo!
