About Us:

The Trailside Nature Museum is owned and operated by Westchester County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation, and was built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Trailside was the first interpretive nature center in the country. The size of the original museum building was expanded in 1976 to include a classroom area, more office space, and the Delaware Indian Resource Center.

The Museum presents permanent and seasonal exhibits that focus on aspects of the natural world and the human history of Ward Pound Ridge Reservation and the surrounding area. Specimens of birds, mammals, plants, insects, and minerals are also on display.

Museum hours are from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday*. Trails are open every day from dawn to dusk. There is no admission fee for the Museum, though donations are welcome and appreciated ($2.00 suggested).

A small gift shop (established and supported by the Friends of Trailside) offers nature-related gifts and books, identification guides to plants and animals, and more.