Como Park Zoo & Conservatory Society

Como Zoo was the first zoo established in Minnesota. Founded in 1897, the zoo is located within Como Park, The Como Zoo has no admission so you can get to all three machines for free. Hours of the carousel building are different than the Como Zoo hours, so plan accordingly. Check the zoo web site for hours. Note Como and the Conservatory are open 365 days a year.

The Garden Safari Gift Shop also sells Como Park Zoo & Conservatory Penny Books. They alternate between selling 3 different styles of books.

Machine 6 ???? all have 'Como Zoo St Paul, MN' on them. Designs are:
1) Tiger,
2) Two Zebras,
3) Ape,
4) Two Giraffes

Machine 7: (2009). ???? Designs are:
1) Building,
2) Koi Fish.
3) Sloth,
4) Snake

Machine 8: (2011) (Zoo machine 3) ???? All have 'Como Zoo' on them. Designs are:
1) Bear,
2) Gorilla,
3) Lion,
4) Turtle.

Machine 9: (Zoo machine 4) ????. All have 'Como Zoo St Paul, MN' on them. Designs are:
1) Polar Bear,
2) Polar Bear head,
3) Penguin,
4) Seal

Machine 10 It is in the main building, with 8 penny designs. It has preloaded shiny modern pennies, and only accepts dollar bills or credit cards. The price is $1 cents per design, or $5 for all 8 designs.

1) Sloth,
2) Giraffe,
3) Snow Leopard,
4) Wolf,
5) Sea Lion,
6) Ostrich,
7) Marjorie McNeely Conservatory interior (Sunken Garden),
8) Marjorie McNeely Conservatory exterior.

Machine 11: inside the Primates building, by the gorillas:
Need scan/ photo of designs on a plain white background.
1) Gorilla,
2) Orangutan,
3) Spider Monkey,
4) Tiger.

Token machine 1: is located just inside the main entrance near the main gift store. The cost is $5 each or 3 for $10. or 4 for $15. 4 styles of golden colored Tokens:
1) Polar Bear,
2) Gorilla,
3) Giraffe,
4) Sparky (Sea Lion).

These Tokens can sometimes also be bought in the gift store.

Retired designs and machines:

Retired 1: 1) 'Como Conservatory', dome over name.
Retired 2: 1) 'Cafesjian's Carousel Como Park', horse
Retired 3: 1) 'Como Zoo', Lion walking forward,
Retired 4: 1) 'Seal, 2) Penguins, 3) Lion, 4) Gorilla,
Retired 5: 1) Lion, 2) Wolf, 3) Giraffe, 4) Polar Bear.

Retired token: The "Silver Bear" token is no longer there.

5/08-23: Scans added for Retired 1 & Token machine 1.
11/03/23 Scans added for Machine 9.

7/21/25: There is now a new machine in the main building, with 8 penny designs. It has preloaded shiny modern pennies, and only accepts dollar bills or credit cards. The price is $1 cents per design, or $5 for all 8 designs.
I didn't find any of the previous machines - they might all be retired now.
The gift shop no longer had any of the discontinued pennies for sale.
It did have a Como Park Zoo penny book for sale.

Where did they say the other machines were??? Repair, maintenance, updating, retired, Other???

I got the impression they'd been permanently removed and this new machine was the only replacement, but the low-level employees I spoke to couldn't confirm. Someone needs to get a hold of a manager.
Thank you. Machines updated. GSY

8/12/25 - There is also a new penny machine inside by the gorillas, with 4 primate designs. The machine only accepts cash or card and was out of pennies at time of visit, although staff were informed.
The token machine is still present.

10/8/2026: Machine 10 is next to the gift shop in the visitor center. It currently only allows you to buy all 8 designs for $5 on card. No cash option available to just pick one. I could not find machines 6-9. Machine 11 was in the primate house building.