History of the Minnesota Zoo
More than 40 years ago, a vision was born for a zoo like no other—a place where guests can view animals from around the world in natural habitats and a garden-like setting. After years of dreaming, discussion, planning, and construction, the Minnesota Zoological Garden, or Minnesota Zoo, opened on May 22, 1978. Called the “New Zoo” back then, it featured 1,200 animals representing 238 species. Fast forward to today, and you’ll experience a zoo that has doubled its animal collection, is the largest environmental education center in the state, and has become a worldwide leader in conservation.
1960s - 1970s
- In the 1960s, local conservationists began lobbying for an expansive zoo facility that would not only feature species native to Minnesota but also animals in naturalistic settings and outdoor exhibits.
- 1969 – Phillip Ogilvie named as the 1st Zoo Director.
- 1970 – Dakota County donated a 500-acre parcel of land in Apple Valley to the State of Minnesota.
- 1972 – Donald Bridgewater named as the 2nd Zoo Director.
- 1974 – Construction for the Minnesota Zoological Garden begins.
- 1975 – Minnesota Zoological Garden Foundation formed to act as major capital fundraising support organization.
- 1978 (May 22nd) – Opening ceremonies are held.
- 1979 – The Zoo officially reaches one million visitors.
- 1979 – Edward Kohn named as the 3rd Zoo Director.
- 1979 – First litter of Amur tiger cubs are born. A signature species, the Minnesota Zoo has been instrumental in tiger conservation programs worldwide.
- 1979 – Monorail opens, giving guests a birds-eye-view of northern hemisphere animals.
1980s
- 1980 – World of Birds Show opens. A popular attraction, the show features a variety of birds from around the world demonstrating free-flight natural behaviors.
- 1980 – First Asian wild horse born at the Zoo. This species was brought back from the brink of extinction in the wild by a zoo-managed captive breeding and reintroductions program. Today, wild herds sired by a Minnesota Zoo stallion thrive on the open plains of Mongolia.
- 1981 – Minnesota Zoo featured on cover of Smithsonian Magazine for Zoo’s innovative design of wildlife in nature-imitating settings
- 1982 – Steve Iserman named as 4th Zoo Director.
- 1982 – Ulysses S. Seal starts the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Tiger Species Survival Plan (SSP) at the Minnesota Zoo. The SSP program manages captive breeding for endangered tigers.
- 1985 – The first Zoo-bred trumpeter swans are released into the wild as part of a breeding and reintroduction program. Once missing from the Midwest landscape, the Zoo, in partnership with Minnesota DNR, releases hundreds of swans to restore wild populations.
- 1986 – Kathryn Roberts named as the 5th Zoo Director
- 1987 – Family Circle magazine names the Minnesota Zoo as one of the best zoos in the country.
- 1988 – First annual Beastly Ball gala is held as major fundraiser.
1990s
- 1990 – Minnesota Zoo “adopts” the last refuge of the endangered Javan rhino, Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia. This Adopt-a-Park program, the first of its kind, spurred many other zoos to take similar approaches to in situ conservation projects throughout the world.
- 1991 – The Coral Reef exhibit opens, providing guests with a unique floor-to-ceiling view of marine species from the South Pacific.
- 1993 – The first Amur leopard cubs are born at the Minnesota Zoo. This subspecies of leopard is one of the most endangered on earth with fewer than 30 remaining in the wild.
- 1993 – The Zoo wins the Association of Zoos and Aquariums prestigious Bean Award for its long-term conservation and propagation program for tigers.
- 1995 – The School for Environmental Education (SES) opens. Located at the Minnesota Zoo, this optional high school allows students to focus on science-related curriculum.
- 1996 – The Minnesota Zoo’s volunteer program celebrates one million hours of service to the Zoo.
- 1997 – The Discovery Bay: UnitedHealthcare Marine Education Center opens. In this spectacular exhibit, over 1.1 million gallons of water provide a home for sharks, rays, dolphins, and other marine life.
- 1998 – The Minnesota Zoo receives the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Top Conservation Award for the Sumatran Tiger Project in Way Kambas National Park in Sumatra, Indonesia.
- 1999 – The first Sichuan takin calf is born at the Minnesota Zoo. Related to mountain goats, this endangered species is considered a National Treasure by the Chinese government.
- 1999 – The Minnesota Zoo hosts AZA’s annual conference.
2000s
- 2000 – The Wells Fargo Family Farm opens. This exhibit provides guests with a look into a working family farm. It won the AZA top exhibit award in 2001.
- 2000 – Lee Ehmke named as the 6th Zoo Director.
- 2002 – The Tiger Lair exhibit opens. In this exciting exhibit, guests get a “whisker close” look at tigers while learning about tiger conservation.
- 2003 – The Zoo celebrates its 25th birthday.
- 2004 – Lemurs: Ghosts of Madagascar opens along with wonderful renovations to the Zoo’s Tropics Trail. The new exhibit provides guests a look at this diverse island featuring ring-tailed and red ruffed lemurs.
- 2005 – The Minnesota Zoo is awarded the AZA International Conservation Award for partnership in the Sumatran Tiger Conservation Program.
- 2007 – After a year-long renovation, the Zoo opens a “new” Minnesota Trail. The trail provides a wonderful nature walk through more than 15 amazing wildlife exhibits such as gray wolves, coyotes, river otters, and raccoons.
- 2007 – Zoo volunteers reach two million hours donated.
- 2008 – Russia’s Grizzly Coast opens, a spectacular, $24 million exhibit, featuring bears, sea otters, wild boars, and Amur leopards. This is the first exhibit of its kind representing the region, landscapes, and amazing animals of the Russian Far East.
- 2009 – Russia’s Grizzly Coast receives top honors in the exhibit design and marketing excellence categories from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
2010s
- 2010 – Black rhino calf born in Namibia named “Sota”. Minnesota Zoo and the Nature Conservancy partnered to fund rhino conservation efforts.
- 2011 – The Target Learning Center opens. A major renovation project and re-purposing of the Zoo’s beluga whale tank.
- 2011 – The Cargill Environmental Education Center and 3M Penguins of the African Coast exhibit opens.
- 2012 – The Zoo’s Pollinator Conservation Initiative is developed, focusing on saving two of the state’s vanishing butterfly species.
- 2012 – The Minnesota Zoo and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources join to form the Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd with the goal to reestablish healthy bison populations throughout the state.
- 2012 – The Minnesota Zoo welcomes a record number of guests through its doors, seeing over 1.3 million visitors this year.
- 2013 – The Zoo’s monorail closes permanently.
- 2014 – The Minnesota Zoo’s hand-crafted Conservation Carousel opens, featuring 56 animals from around the world.
- 2014 – Groundbreaking of the Hanifl Family Wild Woods begins. An immersive nature-play experience spanning 30,000 square feet, that encourages children to explore and connect with nature.
- 2015 – The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) announces that the Minnesota Zoo has been recognized with Significant Achievement for the 2015 Edward H. Bean Award for its tiger program.
- 2016 – John Frawley named as the 7th Zoo Director.
- 2016 – Volunteers break the 3 million hours of service threshold and win the AZA Volunteer Achievement Award.
- 2017 – First release of Dakota skipper, an endangered prairie butterfly native to Minnesota, back into the wild.
- 2017 – Kangaroo Crossing opens for the summer months, allowing guests to walk among free-roaming kangaroos and wallabies and learn about conservation and culture of Australia.
- 2018 – The Zoo launches the first Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular, a fall-time evening event featuring over 5,000 glowing carved pumpkins.
- 2019 – Llama Trek opens for the summer months, allowing guests to walk among free-roaming llamas and learn about conservation and culture of the Andes Mountains.
- 2019 – The Zoo breaks summer camp attendance record, surpassing 6,000 campers for the first time.
- 2019 – The Zoo completes the construction of a new freshwater mussel rearing and research facility, expanding efforts to study these at-risk animals.
- 2019 – The Zoo receives top honors for AZA’s William G. Conway International Conservation Award; surpassing 20 months with no poaching of black rhino at field site in Namibia.
2020s
- 2020 – The Minnesota Zoo temporarily closes its doors to guests two times in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, and significantly alters operations and programming.
- 2020 – Beastly Boulevard, a drive-through experience in response to the pandemic, opens and brings thousands of visitors in support of the Minnesota Zoo.
- 2020 – Nature Illuminated: Animals. Art. Awe is launched, also in response to the pandemic. This innovative new drive-through event features larger-than-life inflatable animal sculptures, creatively illuminated and brought to life by an engaging audio tour.
- 2020 – The Aviary renovations are complete, updating exhibit space and holding areas.
- 2020 – Tiger Lair renovations finish, featuring updated rockwork, a new public viewing space, tiger sculpture, waterfall, and shade canopy.
- 2020 – Minnesota Zoo’s ZOOMS Design Challenge Program is awarded “Top Honors” for the AZA Education Award.
- 2021 – Three wolverine kits are born at the Zoo. These kits are the only surviving wolverines born in North American Zoos in the past 12 years.
- 2022 – The Minnesota Zoo presents Wild Nights – 21+ festival experience centered around global conservation
- 2022 – New exhibit Dino Hideout opens in the fall featuring expertly crafted animatronic dinosaurs and nature play areas.
- 2022 – The Minnesota Zoo breaks ground on the new Treetop Trail which repurposes the decommissioned Monorail track. Set to be the world’s longest elevated pedestrian loop, the Treetop Trail will bring guests into the treetops to experience nature in Minnesota throughout all its splendid seasons.
- 2022 – A feasibility study for the renovation of the Zoo’s aging animal hospital begins.
- 2023 – The Treetop Trail at the Minnesota Zoo is scheduled to open to guests in July.