Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary |
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| Location | Mckinney, Collin County, Texas, United States |
| Area | 289 acres (117 ha) |
| Established | 1967 |
The Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary is a special place in McKinney, Texas, United States. It's a private, non-profit organization that started in 1967. This amazing sanctuary covers 289 acres and has five miles of hiking trails. You can also find about fifty acres of wetlands, a two-acre native plant garden, and a butterfly house here.
The Heard is home to live animals and offers both indoor and outdoor exhibits. More than 100,000 people visit every year, making it a very popular spot in McKinney. Many volunteers from nearby cities like Plano and Dallas help keep the museum running smoothly. Groups like the Audubon Society and students from the University of North Texas also lend a hand.
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History of the Heard
The Heard Museum was founded by Miss Bessie Heard (1886–1988). She grew up in McKinney and loved nature her whole life. Bessie went to college and studied design in New York. She was known for being adventurous, like being the first woman to ride a horse and a bicycle in McKinney! She also helped plant many hackberry trees in downtown McKinney.
When Bessie Heard was 80 years old, she realized how important it was to save a place where future generations could experience nature. The museum officially opened on October 1, 1967. It now welcomes over 100,000 visitors each year. One of the first goals of the museum was to show off Bessie's large collection of bird and flower prints. Before the museum opened, she used to display her prints, shells, minerals, and butterflies in a small "sun-porch museum" at her home.
The first museum building was designed by Pat Y. Spillman. Howard E. Laughlin was the first director. The museum grew in 1991 with an extra 8,000 square feet of space. For many years, the museum also had a raptor center. This center helped about 100 sick or injured wild birds of prey each year until 2004.
The wildlife sanctuary started with 207.4 acres. Wilson Creek, which flows into nearby Lake Lavon, forms the northern edge of the sanctuary. Since 2005, the museum has worked with the nearby country club to make their land more natural with Texas native plants. In 1992, the sanctuary was home to 240 animal species and 200 plant species. These animals and plants live in different areas like forests along rivers and open grasslands. As of 2024, the Heard Museum's iNaturalist project has recorded over 2,000 different kinds of wildlife!
A wetland area was created next to Wilson Creek in 1991. The Heard also protects a special type of native grassland called Texas blackland prairie. This type of prairie is very important. The Texas Master Naturalist program even holds training classes at the Heard for people who want to learn more about nature in Collin, Hunt, and Rockwall counties.
The Heard has three main goals: education, conservation, and preservation. This means they teach people about nature, protect natural areas, and save important plants and animals.
Main Attractions and Habitats
At the 289-acre wildlife sanctuary, visitors can walk on trails, join educational programs, and even help with conservation projects. The Heard sanctuary has five different types of natural areas, called habitats. These include Blackland prairie, wetlands, bottomland forest (forests near rivers), upland forest (forests on higher ground), and white rock escarpment (a rocky cliff area).
The habitats at the Heard protect native North American grasses. These grasses have become very rare because of new buildings and farms. Ken Steigman, who works at another environmental learning area, learned about restoring habitats at the Heard. He remembers seeing seven-foot-tall big bluestem grass with roots that went 15 feet deep! A lot of this area used to be Blackland Prairie, which is a special Texas ecosystem.
The Heard has been recognized by The Audubon Society as an important birding area. Texas is a great place for bird-watching because many birds fly through it on their long journeys. The Heard offers a unique chance to see many birds in a big city area. The Prairie and Timbers Audubon Society also meets at the Heard.
There is a special garden that shows off Texas wildflowers. The North Texas chapter of the Texas Native Plant Society holds its monthly meetings at the museum. The Heard has also hosted a popular spring native plant sale every year since 1989.
You can also visit the Heard's Pioneer Village. It has eight small buildings that look like the homes and structures found in prairie settlements in the late 1800s.
Outdoor Exhibits
- Animal Encounter Trail
- Native Plant Garden
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Texas Butterfly House (open in summer)
- Dinosaurs Live! Life-Size Animatronic Dinosaurs (September-February; check website for exact dates)
- Pioneer Village
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Pioneer Village
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Butterfly House and Garden
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Animals of the World
Indoor Exhibits
- Native Texas Snakes
- Mosasaur Exhibit
- Living Lab (shows major ecosystems at the Heard, a working bee hive, native fish, and more)
- Marine Shell Room
- Project Passenger Pigeon
Programs and Activities
- Hiking on six nature trails; more than 5 miles to explore
- EcoAdventures; Canoeing at the Heard Wetlands
- Scouting Workshops
- Second Saturday Bird Walk
- Night Hikes
- Bird Banding Station; started in 1978 and is the oldest bird-banding station in Texas. Here, scientists carefully catch, tag, and release birds to learn about their movements and health.
- Education programs
- Field trips
- Summer Camps
- Programs for Kids
- Volunteer programs
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Canoeing at the Heard
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Board Walk on the Wood Duck Trail
Events and Festivals
- Holidays at the Heard
The annual Holidays at the Heard event happens in December. It's one of the most beautiful holiday light displays in North Texas.
- Halloween at the Heard
The annual Halloween at the Heard is a fun, family-friendly event for everyone to enjoy.
- Date Night at the Heard
Date Night at the Heard is an outdoor fundraising event. It features live music, dancing, and food trucks.
- Annual Heard Nature Photography Contest
The Heard Nature Photographers Club started in 1981. This club meets on the second Saturday of each month at the Heard Natural Science Museum. They also host an annual photography contest.
See also
- List of nature centers in Texas
- List of museums in North Texas
- McKinney, Texas
- Collin County, Texas
- Perot Museum of Nature and Science
- Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
