White Memorial Conservation Center

White Memorial Conservation Center is a nature preserve in northwestern Connecticut that covers 4,000 acres of land. It contains wetlands, lakes, forests, and a museum building where exhibits explain the region's natural and human history.

The center was founded in 1964 when Alain and May White donated their estate Whitehall to create a place for conservation and learning. Their gift protected a large area from development and turned it into a resource for understanding the natural world.

The museum displays show how Indigenous peoples and European settlers shaped the landscape through farming and hunting over centuries. Today visitors can see how people adapted to and changed this region's environment step by step.

The property is open year-round with trails for walking, camping areas, and museums to explore at your own pace. Wear good shoes since the paths go through various terrain and can become muddy after rain.

The museum displays include dioramas designed by James Perry Wilson, an artist who also created exhibits for the American Museum of Natural History. These handcrafted scenes show animals and plants in their natural settings with impressive attention to detail.