Patuxent Wildlife Research Center is located on the Patuxent Research Refuge, the only National Wildlife Refuge that was established to conduct research on critical environmental problems and issues. Although public access to some of the research sites is restricted due to concerns about safety and potential disturbance of experiments, there are areas of the refuge where limited wildlife recreational and educational activities are permitted. These areas include the National Wildlife Visitor Center and surrounding lands and the Patuxent North Tract property.
The National Wildlife Visitor Center is the largest science and environmental education center in the Department of the Interior. Interactive exhibits focus on global environmental issues, migratory bird studies, habitats, endangered species, creature life cycles and the research tools and techniques used by scientists. The Visitor Center also offers hiking trails, wildlife management demonstration areas, outdoor education sites for school classes, and interpretive tours via electric tram. (The Tram tour, which is seasonal and weather-dependent, requires a modest fee; everything else is FREE.)
The Visitor Center is located off of Powder Mill Road, 2 miles east of the Baltimore/
Washington Parkway, south of Laurel, Maryland. Open 10:00 am - 5:30 pm daily, including
weekends. The Visitor Center is dependent on the assistance of volunteers for all aspects
of its program. School classes and large groups should schedule in advance. Teachers
should attend an orientation workshop prior to bringing classes. Call 301/497-5760 (TDD
301/497-5779) for additional information or to schedule groups.
