View source for Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary

{{Infobox protected area
|name          = Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary
|photo         = Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary- sign1.jpg
|photo_caption =
|location      = [[Mckinney, Texas|Mckinney]], [[Collin County, Texas|Collin County]], [[Texas]], United States
|nearest_city  =
|coords        = {{coord|33.1584|-96.6153|type:landmark_region:US-TX|display=inline,title}}
|area          = {{convert|289|acre|ha|0}}
|established   = 1967
|visitation_num =
|visitation_year =
|website= {{URL|http://www.heardmuseum.org/}}
|governing_body =
}}
A private 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1967, the '''Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary''' is located in [[McKinney]], [[Texas]], United States. With a 289-acre wildlife [[sanctuary]], five miles of hiking [[trail]]s, about fifty acres of [[wetland]]s, a two-acre native plant garden, a butterfly house, live animals, indoor and outdoor exhibits, the Heard welcomes over 100,000 visitors annually.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dallas Fort Worth and beyond website |url=http://www.dfwandbeyond.com/tours/back-to-nature/destinations/the-heard-natural-science-museum-wildlife-sanctuary |access-date=April 24, 2015 |archive-date=May 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509005753/http://www.dfwandbeyond.com/tours/back-to-nature/destinations/the-heard-natural-science-museum-wildlife-sanctuary |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Heard is the most popular tourist attraction in the city of McKinney.<ref name=":5" /> Volunteers from McKinney, [[Plano, Texas|Plano]], [[Allen, Texas|Allen]], [[Westminster, Texas|Westminster]], [[Richardson, Texas|Richardson]], and [[Dallas]] help keep the museum running,<ref>{{Cite news |date=1970-10-01 |title=Museum— |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/plano-daily-star-courier-museum/152473935/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |work=Plano Daily Star-Courier |pages=2}}</ref> along with organizations like the Audubon Society,<ref name=":5" /> and students from the University of North Texas in Denton.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Heard Museum {{!}} ORCA |url=https://orca.unt.edu/the-heard-museum/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |language=en-US}}</ref>
==History==
[[File:Ms.BessHeard.jpg|thumb|right|Bessie Heard and McKinney Mayor Tom Perkins (left), March 26, 1966]]
Miss Bessie Heard (May 26, 1886<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=1992-05-31 |title=Birds of prey find haven |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-gazette-birds-of-prey-find-h/152474529/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |work=The Courier-Gazette |pages=17}}</ref>–1988) was a native of McKinney, whose parents had moved to the area shortly after the American Civil War.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=1992-11-05 |title=Heard |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-gazette-heard/152472320/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |work=The Courier-Gazette |pages=5}}</ref> Heard, who had a lifelong interest in the natural world, attended a local college prep school, graduated from [[Mary Baldwin University|Mary Baldwin College]], and later studied at [[Parsons School of Design|Parsons]] in New York.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1966-04-03 |title=Citizen of the Month: Modest Miss Heard Dedicated Naturalist |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-gazette-citizen-of-the-month/152471112/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |work=The Courier-Gazette |pages=1}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> She was known for her unconventional behavior, as she was "the first woman to straddle a horse in McKinney, as well as the first female to ride a bicycle in town."<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2012-10-18 |title=Founder's "Undignified" Lifestyle Precedent for Environmental Advocacy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-gazette-founders-undignifi/152473126/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |work=The Courier-Gazette |pages=5}}</ref> She also led a drive to plant [[Celtis|hackberry]] trees throughout downtown McKinney.<ref name=":2" /> Heard was 80 years old when she saw the need to preserve a place where future generations could visit to experience nature. The museum opened October 1, 1967 and now serves more than 100,000 visitors annually.<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.heardmuseum.org/history|website=Heard Natural Science Museum|publisher=Heard|accessdate=24 April 2015}}</ref> One of the original missions of the museum was hosting Heard's "large and unusual collection of bird and flower prints."<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=1965-08-05 |title=Wildlife Sanctuary to be Built |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-wildlife-sanctu/152454846/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |pages=22}}</ref> She had previously exhibited her prints and collections of shells, minerals and butterflies at an informal "sun-porch museum" at her home.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=1970-10-01 |title=Heard Museum Planning Anniversary Open House |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/plano-daily-star-courier-heard-museum-pl/152473636/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |work=Plano Daily Star-Courier |pages=1}}</ref>
The original museum building was designed by [[Pat Y. Spillman]].<ref name=":6" /> The first director was Howard E. Laughlin.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=1965-10-18 |title=Miss Heard Appoints Museum Director |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-gazette-miss-heard-appoints/152470898/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |work=The Courier-Gazette |pages=1}}</ref> The museum was expanded by 8,000 square feet in 1991.<ref name=":4" /> The museum hosted a raptor center until 2004, which provided rehabilitation services to approximately 100 sick or injured wild raptors annually.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2005-03-11 |title=Heard opens new exhibit, retail store |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-gazette-heard-opens-new-exhi/152475245/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |work=The Courier-Gazette |pages=1}}</ref><ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=1998-03-01 |title=Have you heard about Heard's raptor rehabilitation programs? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-facts-have-you-heard-about-heards-r/152475048/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |work=The Facts |pages=23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-08-26 |title=Heard showcases rare bird |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-gazette-heard-showcases-rare/152474942/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |work=The Courier-Gazette |pages=1}}</ref>
[[File:Red-spotted Admiral imported from iNaturalist photo 272971495 on 1 August 2024.jpg|thumb|left|[[Red-spotted admiral]] butterfly, native to North America, photographed at the Heard]]
The sanctuary was originally established on 207.4 acres south of the McKinney Country Club.<ref name=":0" /> A local [[landfill]] abuts another boundary of the sanctuary.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-10-18 |title=A fine balance |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-gazette-a-fine-balance/152472793/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |work=The Courier-Gazette |pages=1}}</ref> [[Wilson Creek (Texas)|Wilson Creek]], which feeds nearby [[Lavon Lake|Lake Lavon]],<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Duggan |first=Sofia |date=April 2, 2021 |title=Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary |url=https://inaroundmag.com/champions/heard-natural-science-museum-wildlife-sanctuary/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=In & Around Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> forms the northern boundary.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1981-03-29 |title=Heard schedules tour dates |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-gazette-heard-schedules-tour/152474187/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |work=The Courier-Gazette |pages=1}}</ref> Beginning in 2005, the museum collaborated with the country club to change their landscaping so it was more diverse and richer in Texas native species.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2005-05-29 |title=Heard announces Country Club plans |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-gazette-heard-announces-coun/152471901/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |work=The Courier-Gazette |pages=1}}</ref> As of 1992 the sanctuary supported 240 animal species and 200 plant species living in riparian and prairie habitats.<ref name=":1" /> The [[Geofence|geofenced]] [[iNaturalist]] project for the Heard Museum has indexed over 2,000 species of wildlife as of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary |url=https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/heard-natural-science-museum-wildlife-sanctuary |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=iNaturalist |language=en}}</ref>
A wetland was created adjacent to Wilson Creek in 1991.<ref name=":5" /> The Heard preserves a native prairie subtype known as [[Texas Blackland Prairies|Texas blackland prairie]].<ref name=":3" /> The Texas Blackland Prairie Chapter of the [[Texas Master Naturalist]] program holds training programs at the Heard for residents of Collin, [[Hunt County, Texas|Hunt]], and [[Rockwall County, Texas|Rockwall]] counties.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-01-20 |title=Master Naturalist applications open |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-gazette-master-naturalist-ap/152474335/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |work=The Courier-Gazette |pages=2}}</ref>
The Heard's purpose is threefold: education, conservation, and preservation.<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.heardmuseum.org/history|website=Heard Natural Science Museum|publisher=Heard|accessdate=24 April 2015}}</ref>
==Main attractions==
[[File:HeardPrairie1.jpg|thumb|right|Prairie at the Heard]]
Within the 289-acre wildlife sanctuary, visitors can explore trails, sit in on educational programs, and get their hands dirty with conservation projects. The Heard sanctuary has five habitats including Blackland [[prairie]], [[wetlands]], bottomland forest, [[upland forest]] and white rock escarpment. The habitat at the Heard protects native North American grasses that have become increasingly rare due to development and agriculture. Ken Steigman, director of [[Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area]] in [[Denton County, Texas|Denton County]], first learned about [[habitat restoration]] while working at the Heard: "That seven-foot tall groundcover was [[big bluestem]]. Its roots went down 15 feet. We still find remnants of it here and there. A lot of this area was what ecologists call Blackland Prairie, a native Texas ecosystem."<ref>{{Cite web |last=CTG Staff |date=2016-09-17 |title=Building wilderness in our backyard |url=https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2016/09/17/building-wilderness-in-our-backyard/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=Cross Timbers Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref>
The Heard has been awarded [[National Audubon Society|The Audubon Society's]] designation as an [[important birding area]]. Texas has preeminence as a bird-watching area due to its placement on major migratory paths. However, The Heard offers special opportunities for bird-watching by providing a unique resource in a large metropolitan area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Birding|url=http://www.heardmuseum.org/birding|website=Birding- Heard Museum|accessdate=15 May 2015}}</ref> The Prairie and Timbers Audubon Society meets at the Heard.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015 |title=Native Plant Entrance Garden at the Heard Science Museum and Sanctuary |url=https://www.audubonfoundationtexas.org/native-plant-entrance-garden-at-the-heard-science-museum-and-sanctuary/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=Audubon Foundation of Texas}}</ref>
[[File:Prairie Ringneck Snake imported from iNaturalist photo 42030595 on 1 August 2024.jpg|thumb|left|[[Prairie ringneck snake]] found at Heard during "nature walk and [[iNaturalist]] demonstration"]]
There is a demonstration garden showcasing Texas wildflowers, and the North Texas chapter of the [[Texas Native Plant Society]] holds its monthly meetings at the museum.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1997-03-21 |title=Mother Earth Giddy This Time of Year |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-paris-news-mother-earth-giddy-this-t/152471458/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |work=The Paris News |pages=7}}</ref> The Heard has hosted a popular spring native plant sale since 1989.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spring Native Plant Sale at the Heard |url=https://universityoftexoma.com/calendar/spring-native-plant-sale-at-the-heard-2/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=University of Texoma |language=en-US}}</ref>
Also, the Heard's Pioneer Village features eight buildings in miniature scale that emulate structures that would have been typical in prairie settlements in the late 1800s.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Eden|first1=Stiffman|title=Heard museum celebrates Heritage Day, new Pioneer Village|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/mckinney/20140421-heard-museum-celebrates-heritage-day-new-pioneer-village.ece|accessdate=8 May 2015|agency=The Dallas Morning News|publisher=The Dallas Morning News|date=21 April 2014}}</ref>
==Outdoor exhibits==
:*Animal Encounter Trail
:*Native Plant Garden
:*Butterfly Garden
:*Native Texas Butterfly House (active in summer)
:*Dinosaurs Live! Life-Size Animatronic Dinosaurs (September- February; visit website for complete dates)
:*Pioneer Village<ref>{{cite web|title=Programs|url=http://www.heardmuseum.org/programs|website=Heard Natural Science Museum|accessdate=8 May 2015}}</ref>
{{Clear}}
<gallery mode="packed">
Heard_PioneerVillage1.jpg|Pioneer Village
HeardButterflyHouse.jpg|Butterfly House and Garden
Animalsof_theWorldHeard.jpg| Animals of the World
</gallery>
==Indoor exhibits==
[[File:INdoorExhibit1.jpg|thumb|right|Indoor Exhibits]]
:*Native Texas Snakes
:*Mosasaur Exhibit
:*Living Lab (some dioramas of the major ecosystems found at the Heard, a working observation bee hive, native fish, etc.)
:*Marine Shell Room
:*Project Passenger Pigeon
==Programs and activities==
[[File:HeardBirdBanding1.jpg|thumb|left|150px| Heard Bird Banding Station]]
:*'''Hiking on six nature trails'''; more than 5 miles
:*'''EcoAdventures'''; Canoeing at the Heard Wetlands
:*'''Scouting Workshops'''
:*'''Second Saturday Bird Walk'''
:*'''Night Hikes'''
:*'''Bird Banding Station'''; established in 1978 and is the oldest [[bird-banding station]] in the state of Texas<ref name=":2" />
:*'''Education programs'''
:*'''Field trips'''
:*'''Summer Camps'''
:*'''Programs for Kids'''
:*'''Volunteer programs'''
{{Clear}}
<gallery mode="packed">
HeardCanoeing1.jpg|Canoeing at the Heard
Heard_Board_Walk.jpg|Board Walk on the Wood Duck Trail
</gallery>
==Important events and festivals==
;Holidays at the Heard
[[File:HeardHalloween1.jpg|thumb|Halloween with Dinosaurs]]
The annual Holidays at the Heard event, in December, is one of the holiday lighting displays in North Texas.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mia|first1=Edwards|title=Holiday Trail of Lights|url=http://www.nbcdfw.com/contact-us/community/1220142014-Holiday-Trail-of-Lights-281364891.html|website=NBC|date=3 November 2014 |publisher=NBC DFW|accessdate=7 May 2015}}</ref>
;Halloween at the Heard
The annual Halloween at the Heard is a family-friendly Halloween event.<ref>{{cite web|title=Halloween at the Heard|url=http://heardmuseum.org/events/entry/halloween/instance/10-18-2014|website=Heard Museum|accessdate=7 May 2015}}</ref>
;Date Night at the Heard
[[File:HeardTexasHeritage.jpg|thumb|An event at the Heard]]
Date Night at the Heard is an outdoor fundraising event featuring live music, dancing, a cash bar and food trucks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Date Night at the Heard |url=http://www.dallasobserver.com/event/date-night-at-the-heard-9300514|website=Observer|accessdate=26 April 2017}}</ref>
The event is for guests ages 21+.<ref>{{cite web|title=Date Night at the Heard Museum|url=https://planoprofile.com/event/date-night-at-the-heard-museum|website=planoprofile|accessdate=26 April 2017|archive-date=27 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427193812/https://planoprofile.com/event/date-night-at-the-heard-museum/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
;Annual Heard Nature Photography Contest
The Heard Nature Photographers Club was established in 1981. The Heard Nature Photographers Club meets the 2nd Saturday of each month at the Heard Natural Science Museum.<ref>{{cite web|title=Heard Nature Photographers|url=http://www.heardnaturephotographers.com/history/|website=Heard Nature Photographers|accessdate=24 June 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630192609/http://www.heardnaturephotographers.com/history/|archivedate=30 June 2015}}</ref>
==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]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary}}
* [http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g56260-d270867-Reviews-Heard_Natural_Science_Museum_Wildlife_Sanctuary-McKinney_Texas.html/ Tripadvisor Website]
{{authority control}}
[[Category:1967 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Museums established in 1967]]
[[Category:Science museums in Texas]]
[[Category:Children's museums in Texas]]
[[Category:Natural history museums in Texas]]
[[Category:Museums in Collin County, Texas]]
[[Category:McKinney, Texas]]
[[Category:Paleontology in Texas]]
[[Category:Nature centers in Texas]]
[[Category:Dinosaur museums in the United States]]
[[Category:Grasslands of the United States]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of the United States]]
[[Category:Wetlands of Texas]]