Marjorie McNeely Conservatory

The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park is a free indoor botanical garden that has operated as part of the Como Park complex for over a century, and it remains one of St. Paul's most beautiful public spaces. The conservatory encompasses multiple garden rooms including the signature Palm Dome — a glass and steel Victorian greenhouse housing towering tropical palms that create a cathedral-like environment unlike anything else in Minnesota.

For families, the conservatory works on multiple levels. Children who have never seen a palm tree in person experience the Palm Dome as something genuinely extraordinary — the scale of tropical plants in a Minnesota setting creates a cognitive contrast that prompts questions and wonder. Seasonal shows amplify this effect: the spring flower show (approximately March through April) fills the conservatory with thousands of flowering plants in displays that draw visitors from across the Twin Cities; the fall chrysanthemum show and winter holiday show are similar spectacles.

From a logistics standpoint, the conservatory is ideal for family visits. It's warm and fragrant in all weather, fully accessible for strollers throughout, and requires no tickets, planning, or reservations. Walk in, explore at your own pace, and leave whenever the kids are ready.

The voluntary donation model means there's no cost barrier to visiting, though the conservatory depends on community support to maintain its programming.

The conservatory connects naturally to the broader Como Park outing — zoo, park grounds, and conservatory together constitute one of the best free family days in the Twin Cities, requiring only the cost of lunch (which you can pack) and however much you choose to donate.