Legacy Projects
Legacy Projects are an important part of future planning at the Lake Superior Zoo. In 2008, the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, called the “Legacy Amendment,” was approved by Minnesota voters to: protect drinking water sources; to protect, enhance, and restore wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; to preserve arts and cultural heritage; to support parks and trails; and to protect, enhance, and restore lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater.
Funds from the Legacy Amendment have supported future planning, exhibit restoration, education programming, and historic preservation.
About the Legacy Amendment
The Legacy Amendment increased the state sales tax by three-eighths of one percent from July 1, 2009 through 2034. This sales tax revenue is distributed into the Legacy Amendment’s four funds as follows: 19.75 percent to the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, 33 percent to the Clean Water Fund, 33 percent to the Outdoor Heritage Fund, and 14.25 percent to the Parks and Trails Fund. The Lake Superior Zoological Society (Lake Superior Zoo) has received funding for several programs and projects from the Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
Connecting People to Conservation (FY26-27)
Education and Exhibit Enhancement Initiative
With support from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, the Lake Superior Zoo is expanding its educational programming through two efforts: dedicated education staffing and targeted exhibit enhancements.
Our field trips, keeper programs, and public outreach create meaningful moments with wildlife for visitors of all ages. To build on those moments, this project adds a dedicated education specialist focused entirely on tours, keeper talks, and curriculum development. This role provides a layer of visitor engagement that current staffing cannot accommodate alongside daily animal care responsibilities.
At the same time, three to five exhibits and campus spaces will be updated with interactive, interpretive elements. When paired with an educator who can bring those stories to life, the result is a more connected, lasting experience for every visitor.
A focused outreach effort will bring these programs to schools and community groups across Minnesota. All grant funds support new programming capacity and do not replace the Zoo’s existing operating or capital resources.
You can read the FY25 Annual report here.
For more information, please contact:
Noah Hobbs, Executive Director
Lizzy Larson, Director of Animal Management and Facilities
Lake Superior Zoo
7210 Fremont St.
Duluth, MN 55807
218-461-3527
This project is made possible in part by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
For more details on funded initiatives, visit www.legacy.mn.gov.
For more information about the Legislative Coordinating Commission, visit www.lcc.mn.gov.