Junior Museum & Zoo

Our mission is to engage a child's curiosity in science and nature.

The JMZ is a place where children and their caregivers come to explore, discover, create and play. Through hands-on science exhibits and a diverse community of live animals, your child's natural scientist will be nurtured.

The Zoo is home to more than 50 species of animals—about 200 specimens in all—many of which are brought into classrooms as part of the Junior Museum & Zoo's science outreach program with local schools. Some of the animals include bobcats, raccoons, jungle bats, hedgehogs, ferrets, snakes, fresh water fish and invertebrates, birds, turtles and a giant tortoise!

We offer a menagerie of science programs for schools and community groups, as well as classes, summer camps and birthday parties for families. 

A visitor created a wonderful video of their family visit. Click HERE to view it.


Have you tried one of our preschool or afterschool classes?
Click here for the Enjoy Catalog which lists our available classes and other classes offered by the City of Palo Alto's Community Services Department.

Click here to learn more about our educational programs for schools or groups.

We are a BLUE STAR MUSEUM!
Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums across America to offer free admission to the nation’s service members, including National Guard and Reserve, and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families.

To learn more or to find other Blue Star Museums, click here.


The Junior Museum and Zoo is part of the City of Palo Alto's Community Services Department (CSD). To sign up for the CSD's weekly enewsletter, click here. To learn about the other services, events and programs this organization provides, click here.