Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo, Science museum and educational zoo in Palo Alto, United States.
The Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo is a small public museum in Palo Alto, California, combining science exhibits with a zoo that houses raccoons, flamingos, meerkats, and several bird species. The site has both indoor galleries and outdoor animal enclosures, laid out so visitors can move easily between the two.
The museum was founded in the 1930s as a place for children to learn about nature and animals in an informal setting. In the early 2000s, it went through a major renovation that brought the buildings and animal enclosures up to current standards.
This place is where many Palo Alto children have their first close encounter with live animals, touching and observing them with guides nearby. School groups visit regularly, and the zoo has become a familiar part of growing up in the area.
The grounds are largely accessible, with paved paths and ramps throughout the outdoor areas. Many parts of the site are open to the sky, so bring sun protection on warm days, especially in summer.
The grounds include a dinosaur garden where fossils and prehistoric specimens found in the surrounding region are on display outdoors. Many visitors focus on the live animals and walk past this area without realizing what is there.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
