Nature lovers have an exciting new destination to visit in Montgomery County.
The John James Audubon Center, a new immersive museum and nature facility, opens at the site of famed U.S. ornithologist John James Audubon’s historic 18th-century home and property on Wednesday, June 5.
JOHN JAMES AUDUBON CENTER FAST FACTS
- The John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove opens on Wednesday, June 5.
- The museum and nature facility features interactive exhibits about birds, conservation and John James Audubon’s work.
- Highlights include the immersive WOW Birds! Gallery, the kid-friendly Fledging Trail and a birdwatching area.
- Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, $10 for youth and free for children and military.
At the new attraction, visitors can explore galleries and permanent exhibits about conservation and art, an outdoor birdwatching area and an interactive exhibit that allows people to experience the earliest stages of a bird’s life, from egg to first flight.
The Museum
The John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove joins the existing historic house, barn and nature trails at Mill Grove in attracting visitors eager to enjoy and appreciate nature.
The museum’s galleries and permanent exhibits aim to educate, engage and inspire visitors interested in birds, art, conservation and Audubon’s legacy.
Drawn From Nature – The John James Audubon Gallery dives into Audubon’s seminal work The Birds of America, which consists of 435 paintings of different bird species that call North America home. Visitors can see rare first-edition copies of the book in this gallery and also browse a life-size digital version.
The WOW Birds! Gallery is all about the variety, characteristics and flight of birds along the Atlantic Flyway, the major north-to-south route for migratory birds in North America. Visitors can push a button to hear the songs of different birds in the immersive Sound Forest, discover how birds’ wings work and more in this gallery.
In Conservation Stories, visitors can learn more about the mission of the National Audubon Society, Audubon’s Seabird Restoration Program and Project Puffin. The exhibit highlights the ornithologist’s pioneering work in bird conservation and details how biologists restored the dwindling populations of Atlantic Puffins on the coast of Maine.
Outdoor Experiences
The immersive experiences extend beyond the galleries to areas outside of the museum.
More than 175 species of birds and more than 400 species of native plants call the 175-acre Mill Grove estate home. Visitors can head outside of the center to Pawlings Porch to birdwatch over a wildflower meadow and learn more about Mill Grove’s resident birds and plants.
An outdoor installation called Fledging Trail is geared toward children and features simulations of the many phases of a bird’s life, from hatching to leaving the nest. Visitors can also find a sensory garden, water features and ADA-accessible play areas at Fledging Trail.
Hours & Admission
The John James Audubon Center is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors (age 65 and up), $10 for youth (ages 6-17) and free for children (age 5 and younger) and active members of the military and their immediate family.
The grounds at Mill Grove are open year-round, from dawn to dusk.
Make plans today to visit Montgomery County and see this haven for birders and nature enthusiasts!
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