diff --git a/changelog.txt b/changelog.txt
index efe6e936..1e7f78a5 100644
--- a/changelog.txt
+++ b/changelog.txt
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ OPENSEADRAGON CHANGELOG
 * Overlays appear in the DOM immediately on open or addOverlay (#507)
 * imageLoaderLimit now works (#544)
 * Turning off scrollToZoom in gestureSettings now allows scroll events to propagate
+* You can now set a minZoomLevel that's greater than the home zoom level
+* Added union() to OpenSeadragon.Rect
 
 1.2.1: (in progress)
 
diff --git a/src/rectangle.js b/src/rectangle.js
index 6c8c9243..5d3495af 100644
--- a/src/rectangle.js
+++ b/src/rectangle.js
@@ -201,6 +201,21 @@ $.Rect.prototype = /** @lends OpenSeadragon.Rect.prototype */{
         );
     },
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the smallest rectangle that will contain this and the given rectangle.
+     * @param {OpenSeadragon.Rect} rect
+     * @return {OpenSeadragon.Rect} The new rectangle.
+     */
+    // ----------
+    union: function(rect) {
+        var left = Math.min(this.x, rect.x);
+        var top = Math.min(this.y, rect.y);
+        var right = Math.max(this.x + this.width, rect.x + rect.width);
+        var bottom = Math.max(this.y + this.height, rect.y + rect.height);
+
+        return new OpenSeadragon.Rect(left, top, right - left, bottom - top);
+    },
+
     /**
      * Rotates a rectangle around a point. Currently only 90, 180, and 270
      * degrees are supported.
diff --git a/src/viewport.js b/src/viewport.js
index 44654f7e..0f7f5cf1 100644
--- a/src/viewport.js
+++ b/src/viewport.js
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ $.Viewport.prototype = /** @lends OpenSeadragon.Viewport.prototype */{
             this.minZoomLevel :
                 this.minZoomImageRatio * homeZoom;
 
-        return Math.min( zoom, homeZoom );
+        return zoom;
     },
 
     /**