THE HEARD NATURAL SCIENCE MUSEUM AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Located at One Nature Place, McKinney Texas, the Heard Natural Science Museum is a great place to visit and view native plant life.  Walking the grounds is a treat at any time of the year.  The Heard emphasizes an appreciation of nature and its conservation. Recently the 2009 class of future Master Gardeners participated in the clean-up of up the Native Plant Garden.

Working among the butterflies we discovered a wonderful display of trees, shrubs, grasses, vines, ground covers and perennials native to Texas.  It is here that you can see how native plants and trees can be used in home landscapes and by having the right plants it is easy to attract butterflies.  The Museum web site offers downloads of instructions.

At the Heard there are seven trails that ramble throughout a variety of ecosystems. Each trail is distinctive in terrain, length and scenery.  Trail maps are available to have out on the sanctuary.  This is a very family friendly place and a great place for a walk. 

The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary is the realization of the vision and generosity of Miss Bessie Heard (1886-1988) who left a legacy to be enjoyed by the city of McKinney and North Texas.  She saw the need to preserve a place for future generations to visit and experience nature.  The museum opened in 1967 and has over 100,000 visitors annually.  The museum’s mission is education, conservation and preservation.