Robinson Nature Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Robinson Nature Center |
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Robinson Nature center building (background), and wildflower gardens (foreground).
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| Type | nature center |
| Location | 6692 Cedar Lane Columbia, Maryland 21044 |
| Area | 22 acres (0.089 km2) |
| Created | 2009 |
| Operated by | Howard County, Maryland |
The James and Anne Robinson Nature Center is a special place where you can learn all about nature! It's located on 18 acres of park land right next to the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area. The building itself is super eco-friendly. It uses things like geothermal heating (which uses the Earth's heat!), solar panels, and ways to save water. Because of these cool features, it has a special award called LEED Certified Platinum. This means it's one of the greenest buildings around!
Every year, the Center offers more than 450 programs. These include fun field trips, public events, birthday parties, and special programs for homeschooling families and scout groups. The land for the center was protected for many years by James and Anne Robinson. They made sure it wasn't built on by developers. Eventually, they arranged for the land to go to Howard County, Maryland so everyone could enjoy it. The James & Anne Robinson Foundation still helps support the Center, which is run by the Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks.
Contents
The Story of the Land: How the Center Began
The Robinson Nature Center is built on a part of a larger piece of land. This land was bought by James and Anne Robinson in 1957. It's right next to the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area. It's also near the area where the city of Columbia, Maryland was first developed.
For many years, people wanted to buy the Robinsons' land to build lots of houses. But Anne Robinson wanted the land to stay natural. In 2002, she talked to the county about turning it into a nature center. The county bought the land in 2005. The James & Anne Robinson Foundation, which Anne created, even gave back $1 million to help build the center! Sadly, Anne Robinson passed away in 2005 and didn't get to see the center open. Her husband, James, had passed away earlier in 1977.
Building the Nature Center
Construction on the Robinson Nature Center began in 2009. Money for the project came from different parks and school projects in the county. The old house where Anne Robinson lived was taken down. A barn on the property was also carefully taken apart. Some of the wood from the barn was saved. It was later used to make siding and tables for a special "Legacy Room" in the center's lobby. This room honors James and Anne Robinson.
The Nature Center was designed by GWWO Architects. It was built by Forrester Construction Co. and KCI Technologies. It officially opened its doors to the public on September 10, 2011.
Remembering the Robinsons
Even though the old house is gone, you can still see the stone stairs that led to its front porch. In 2014, a covered pavilion was built where the house used to be. The shape of the original house is even etched into the stone floor of the pavilion.
Anne Robinson loved to garden in her front yard. Plants from her gardens were saved when the center was built. A beautiful memorial garden was created around these original plants. It now includes native shrubs and trees, benches, and a stone pathway. It's a peaceful place to remember the Robinsons' love for nature.
Anne Robinson's Special Wish
Anne Robinson wrote a very important letter in 2002. In this letter, she shared her deep feelings about her property. She said:
I have lived the majority of my life on property known as 6692 Cedar Lane, Columbia, Maryland 21044 (the "Property"). I have become part of the Property, and the Property has become part of me. The memories of my late husband, James Howard Robinson; the beauty of the woods; the sounds of creatures; and the wonders of nature; all are part of me and my Property. It is my wish and desire to maintain my Property in its natural state for all to enjoy as I have. To that end, I have made provisions in my Last Will and Testament related to the disposition of my Property. In the event I become disabled or otherwise legally incompetent, I want all to know my desires and wishes. I am not concerned with the economic value of my Property nor am I concerned about leaving it to potential heirs. I want the Property to serve as a source of inspiration, education and beauty for the general public.
This letter shows how much Anne wanted the land to stay natural. She hoped it would be a place for everyone to find inspiration, education, and beauty.
The Eco-Friendly Building
The main building at the Robinson Nature Center is about 23,000 sq ft (2,100 m2) in size. It cost $17.6 million to build. It's made of strong concrete, with wood and stone on the outside. This three-story building has lots of cool features:
- A large auditorium with 120 seats.
- A planetarium where you can explore the stars, with 50 seats.
- Solar panels on the roof that create electricity from the sun.
- A geothermal heating and cooling system that uses the Earth's natural temperature.
- A parking lot for 112 cars, made with permeable paving. This special pavement lets rainwater soak through it, which helps protect the environment.
The architects who designed the building wanted to show how people, animals, and plants can live together. The exhibit designers hoped that the building would be a starting point for visitors. They wanted people to learn about nature inside and then go outside to explore the trails and other areas.
Geographic data related to Robinson Nature Center at OpenStreetMap
