Originally named as Minnesota Zoological Gardens, the Minnesota Zoo located at Apple Valley, Minnesota was established in May 22, 1978. The Minnesota Zoo is unlike most zoos in Minnesota and in the U.S. since it is operated by a state agency. Its working mission is to ?connect people, animals, and the natural world.? When it first opened, people were in awe of its innovative design. In fact, it became known as one of the first zoos to arrange the animals according to their natural habitats instead of the species they belong to. The displays are sorted into six areas plus another three walking trails namely ? The Medtronic Minnesota Trail (animals found in Minnesota), the Northern Trail (animals of the North) and the Tropics Trail (tropical animals displayed in an indoor trail).