McDonnell Polar Bear Point

McDonnell Polar Bear Point is the Saint Louis Zoo's dedicated polar bear habitat, featuring large above-ground yards and — most remarkably — an underwater viewing panel where visitors can watch polar bears swim directly overhead through crystal-clear glass. The exhibit is one of the zoo's most dramatic single animal experiences: a 1,000-pound polar bear swimming toward the camera, rolling in the water, and pressing against the glass creates a scale and immediacy that photographs don't fully capture.

Polar bears are most behaviorally active in cooler temperatures, which means this exhibit rewards fall, winter, and spring visitors more than those visiting during Missouri's peak summer heat. On cool days, the bears swim, play with enrichment objects, and move purposefully around their habitat. In 95-degree August heat, they tend to rest more — still magnificent animals, but less dynamic.

The exhibit design moves visitors from above-ground fence-line viewing areas down into an underground observation room with the primary glass panel. The transition from seeing the bears from above to watching them swim at eye level is always impactful, and the underground room's relative coolness in summer is a practical bonus.

The surrounding North Polar section of the zoo includes complementary cold-climate exhibits — arctic fox, snowy owls (seasonal), and interpretive content about Arctic ecosystems. It's worth the 15–20 minutes to explore the broader zone rather than just the polar bear exhibit alone.

Like all Saint Louis Zoo exhibits, admission is free.