Dedicated to Lathrope E. Smith, in 1972, Meadowside Nature Center (MNC) offers natural and cultural history programs and interactive exhibits for all ages.
Mission statement
Indoor exhibits
Outdoor exhibits
Trails
Mission Statement
To inspire people to learn about and enjoy the natural and cultural resources of the county and to advocate for their stewardship.
Indoor Exhibits
These indoor exhibits can be enjoyed Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00am-5:00pm. There is no fee to visit the exhibits for families. Self-guided groups are welcome to visit the exhibits September through mid-June FREE. though, there is a $1 per child fee for self-guided groups of 10 or more from mid-June through August. Reservations are required for all organized groups.
Legacy of the Land
Offers a unique opportunity to explore the story of Montgomery County’s natural heritage
through a multitude of sensory experiences.
Listen to song birds sing over head. Crawl through a cave.
Feel the fur of woodland animals. And, pleasure your senses with the fragrances of local plants.
Legacy People
Open your imagine to life as a pioneer child or eastern woodland Indian during the 1800’s.
As a pioneer child, you can play with old time toys,
dress up in authentic clothing, and cook a traditional
pioneer dinner. As an eastern woodland Indian child, you can explore life in a long house,
hop in a dugout
canoe and go fishing, or grind corn for making meals.
Curiosity Corner
This child-friendly environment contains books, games, puzzles, and puppets that will delight any budding
naturalist.
Spot the box turtle napping under his favorite log. Or, enjoy our feathered friends
as they grab a snack at the feeders.
Outdoor Exhibits
Butterfly and
Hummingbird Garden
This garden is filled with an array of native plants to attract local wildlife. Enjoy watching a butterfly or
hummingbird sipping nature from a flower or a bee buzzing flower to flower as it collects pollen and
nectar to bring back to its home. Note: Open Tuesday - Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm
Raptor Aviary
Meadowside is home to many permanently injured non-releasable birds of prey.
The raptor aviaries are
located behind the nature center and house a Red Shouldered Hawk, Barred Owl, Turkey Vulture and
an American Bald Eagle. Note: Open Tuesday - Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm
Trails
Nature Trails
The nature center has more than seven miles of trail that explores habitats that include meadows, woods, ponds, streams, a lake and areas of historical interest.
MNC trail map(pdf, 365KB)
Trail Features
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Lake Frank
Lake Frank, is a 54-acre reservoir named after Bernard Frank, a wilderness activist, environmentalist and a co-founder of The Wilderness Society. A great place for viewing migratory birds, enjoying wildflowers, or fishing along the shoreline. NOTE: swimming, boating, and ice skating are prohibited. -
Pioneer Homestead
This historic site includes two log cabins, a smoke house, a corn crib, gardens and an orchard. The site is interpreted to reflect a small family farm after the Civil War. -
Muncaster Mill
Also called "Miltons Mill", this grist mill was built in 1820, and burned to its foundation in 1935. It was the last mill on Rock Creek to close. A large dam about 0.5 miles upstream provided the water power. Three millstones ground corn for animal feed; wheat, barley and oats for coarsely ground grain; and buckwheat and wheat for fine flour Today only the ruins from the grist mill remain. -
Valient Bridge
This covered bridge was built by students from Rockville High School and Montgomery County Student Trades foundation in memory of teacher and environmentalist Joan Valient.
Date of last update: December 22, 2010
Montgomery County Department of Parks