The Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo is a place where children and their caregivers come to learn, explore, play, discover, and get curious about science and nature. Founded in 1934, it has deep roots in the community and serves children ages birth to 11 with the mission to engage a child's curiosity is science and nature. Besides the museum and zoo experience, the organization offers educational programs in the elementary schools of Palo Alto, East Palo Alto and surrounding communities along with afterschool programs, summer camps, and birthday parties. Owned and operated by the City of Palo Alto, the organization is supported by the Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo. The Friend completed a capital campaign of $25 million dollars and along with a $7 million dollar investment from the City, they rebuilt the aging facility, which reopened in 2021. The Friends support and fundraise for new exhibits and events, free science outreach programs in predominantly low-income and minority schools, and programs that support diversity and inclusion.