Located in the heart of Palo Alto, the Junior Museum & Zoo provides developmentally appropriate opportunities for children, ages birth to nine, and their families and caregivers to learn about science and nature through hands-on, minds-on exhibits, programs and live animal encounters.
Founded in 1934 by Josephine O’Hara and Josephine Deveneck in a local elementary school, the Junior Museum and Zoo was the first children’s museum west of the Mississippi and has been a local leader in children’s science education since its inception.
The Museum’s annual exhibits, workshops, classes, and extensive science outreach programs provide unique opportunities for children to learn about science, math, physics, and art through contextualized experiences that involve real objects and animal encounters not readily available in formal education settings. The Museum provides young children with an entertaining, interactive learning environment that incorporates hands-on opportunities to explore their world. Through guided play, children are able to absorb fundamental concepts and develop important skills, including observation, gathering information, and drawing conclusions. Every other year, the Museum introduces a new interactive science exhibit. The current exhibit, “Clean Green Energy Machines,” introduces children and their families to sustainable forms of energy like water, solar, and “human” power.
In 1969, the Museum added a zoo with a small selection of mostly indigenous wildlife. The Zoo now features more than 50 animals, including bobcats, bats, snakes, African hedgehogs, owls, ducks, ferrets, and geese. The Zoo’s small but diverse collection of wildlife helps children develop a deeper understanding of the natural world and the relationships between people and animals.
