FAQs

Red + Green Macau

 

Was the original building renovated or is it a new build?

The old facility, parts of which dated back to 1941, was badly in need of repair and upgrading, both for the sake of visitors and for the animals. The rebuild addresses the environmental, safety and comfort constraints of the old facility in addition to providing more opportunities for STEM and biosciences education, expanded programming for economically disadvantaged schools and improved facilities and programs for children with physical and developmental disabilities. 

Because we outgrew our space over the years, we needed to rethink the layout in our original location to expand our footprint. This was a complete rebuild and redesign of our facility and visitor experience. At 34,000 total square feet, the new JMZ footprint is nearly double that of the old (19,000 sq. ft.), with much needed visitor amenities, fully accessible exhibits, and additional program space. The new facility is still located at 1451 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301. 

The Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo, which works to support and enhance the JMZ, raised $25 million for the rebuild, thanks to a $15 million matching grant from the Peery Family and $10 million in other private donations from local donors. The City contributed over $8 million to the build as well for a total construction investment of $33 million.

 

 

How much does it cost to buy a ticket, and do you offer memberships?

Tickets cost just $10 per person over 12 months of age. The discounted school field trip rate is $5 per person. There are also discounted family memberships and need-based discounts available. Free passes will also be available at Palo Alto Libraries on a first come first served basis.  More details on how passes will be made available is coming soon! These accessible ways to enjoy the new facility are made possible by heavy subsidies by the City of Palo Alto. 

Some residents have asked why the JMZ is no longer donation based. Under our old model of suggested donations of $5, very few visitors ended up donating that amount - in fact, over the course of a year, the average donation was less than $1 per visit. Since the approach of suggested donations alone was not sustainable to continue serving the expanding needs of the zoo and the community, we’re charging a similar rate to comparable children’s museums and zoos in the area. 

The reduced ticket price for those who need financial assistance will be $3. We will participate in a national program called Museums for All, which sets standards for admissions based on if a family is receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits). We will also offer reduced admission for families who have children with disabilities.  

We have three membership plans available to make the JMZ as accessible to all members of the community as possible: 

  • Family Membership (Resident, $120; Non-resident, $138) 

  • Family Plus Membership (Resident, $150; Non-resident, $173) 

  • Supporting Family Membership (Resident, $250; Non-resident, $288) 

 

Are there parts of the facility that are free?

Exhibits that are always free and available include a nature play area with animal sculptures, boulder hop in the bioswale, Charles Sowers’ public art piece “Sway” where children can ride four pendulums (only works when we're open), and a 10 billionth scaled model of the Solar System in Rinconada Park.  Future plans include a cool kaleidoscope tunnel through the covered walkway to Middlefield Road.

 

What's New at the Palo Alto JMZ?

Inspired by the best of the former JMZ, we have developed new, richer experiences for visitors, including: 

  • The lushly landscaped Zoo is now a fully enclosed aviary with birds flying overhead with lots of child-sized play spaces.  

  • The new zoo is a beautiful, tranquil landscape with new homes for our animals that meet accreditation standards and provide best practices in animal welfare.  

  • The museum hall has been expanded by 40 percent, and all new hands-on exhibits were developed There is a large outdoor courtyard and deck with outdoor exhibits, including a wheelchair accessible Tree House where children will have the extraordinary experience of safely climbing and exploring up among birds and branches out over the zoo.  

  • The new and larger Ball Machine area has taken the very popular, former machine space to the next level and has been a hit with testers.  

  • There is a larger Baby’s area, a block building area, and a collections exhibit. 

 

What are some of the highlights people can experience in the new facility?

  • Free outdoor exhibit spaces such as the bolder hop in the bioswale, Nature Play, our outdoor Solar System Exhibit, and “Sway” an interactive art piece under the portico. 

  • The exhibit hall contains a variety of new interactive and kinesthetic exhibits in which children can play and learn. A crawl-into-log allows children to crawl from the museum directly into the center of the meerkat exhibit creating an immersive experience that is nose to nose with the animals. 

  • The entire zoo is designed as a large aviary, allowing a wide range of birds to interact with children with animal care staff. Connecting the zoo spaces, the tree house runs through the center of the zoo with rope bridges, ladders, net tubes, and platforms to create a vibrant and exciting play-based experience for children. 

  • Studio Hanson Roberts has shaped a new, one-of-a-kind experience for children and adults alike that will encourage imaginative exploration at an intimate level. They championed the MicroZoo as a model for accessibility and sustainability, by maximizing the programing within the existing footprint. The zoo landscape design engages visitors as part of the educational experience. 

  • Resident animals include Edward the African spurred tortoise, slender-tailed meerkat, raccoon, domestic European rabbit, American flamingo, scarlet ibis, red and blue macaw, fulvous whistling duck, Von der decken hornbill, Hamerkop, Koi fish, African cichlid fish and more. 

 

What are some of the animals we can find at the new zoo?

The Zoo is home to more than 50 species of animals—about 200 specimens in all.  Many of them are brought to schools as part of our Science Outreach program. Some of our animals include, rabbits, raccoons, meerkats, flamingos, parrots, freshwater fish, invertebrates, and a giant tortoise!

 

Do you offer classes and camps?

In an addition to an amazing zoo, the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo offers numerous science programs for schools, community groups, children and families, including summer camps, and birthday parties. 

Learn More

 

Is the new facility eco-friendly?

The new facility is more eco-friendly, including improved energy and water efficiency, additional trees, bioswales for stormwater, and EV charging for electric cars.  

 

What COVID-19 safety protocols are in place for visitors?

We are following CDC guidelines to ensure visitors are as safe as possible.  We no longer require visitors to mask while at the facility, but do ask visitors to stay home when sick.  Immune compromised visitors, or visitors who may be contagious (but not symptomatic) are encouraged to wear a mask as well.

 

 

What are you doing to make the new facility accessible and inclusive?

The JMZ strives to be as welcoming as possible for children of all abilities and their caregivers. It was built from the ground up with accessible and inclusive experiences, that were informed by feedback from the local families who have children with physical and developmental disabilities and the organizations that support them. Examples include: 

  • 27 new permanent exhibits that were universally designed with accessible elements, including a wheelchair accessible tree house; 

  • Two respite spaces (Calming Nooks) for visitors with sensory issues; 

  • Resources for visitors with disabilities will include tactile maps, signage with braille and hyper-legible fonts, life-size sculptures of the animals, assisted listening devices, downloadable audio tours; and 

  • All exhibits were developed and prototyped with people who have disabilities, and many are sensory-rich interactives that include tactile, sound, and smell experiences.   

To be more inclusive, the JMZ also now has bilingual labels in English and Spanish, as well as audio labels in both languages. 

Learn more about accessibility at the JMZ here

Who are the Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo and what do they do?

The Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo are a non-profit benefit corporation whose mission is to support and enhance the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo. They raised the funds to design and reconstruct the Junior Museum & Zoo, they support the development of new exhibits and are committed to reducing inequity in science education. For over 20 years The Friends have partially funded the Science Outreach Program through which JMZ Educators provide hands-on STEM instruction (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) to at-risk schools in East Palo Alto and East Menlo Park and in Santa Clara County.  During the 2020-21 academic year, the JMZ delivered science materials kits and nearly 500 virtual lessons to more than 2,000 underserved students. 

 

Who owns the JMZ?

The JMZ is owned and operated by the City of Palo Alto.  

 

Are pets allowed?

Pets are not allowed, including emotional support animals. Service animals are welcome.   

 

Can I book a group visit for a private event or field trip?

Yes! Learn more about private events here. Learn more about field trips here

 

Are facial coverings required?

Facial coverings are required at all times. See Coronavirus Information to learn more. 

 

Can I bring my own food and drink?

Visitors are welcome to bring their own food and drink for consumption in the courtyard. Food and drink cannot be opened in the museum or zoo.  

 

Where can I park?

There is a parking lot plus street parking available for visitors.

 

Is the JMZ open rain or shine?

Yes, the JMZ is open rain or shine.  

 

How can I support the JMZ?

You can support the JMZ as a volunteer, donor, or even an employee! Learn more here

 

Can I touch the animals?

Guests are not allowed to touch the animals unless invited to do so by a Zookeeper. Please be courteous and respectful to all resident wildlife. 

Why is the water table closed and what will replace it?

We have removed our Water Play exhibit due to City of Palo Alto water restrictions imposed by the current drought. In its place, our volunteers will be running periodic programs, such as building activities. Thank you for understanding.