Powdermill Nature Reserve
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
One of the Four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
About Powdermill
Powdermill Nature Reserve is Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s environmental research center. Located 55 miles southeast of Pittsburgh in Rector, Pennsylvania, Powdermill is a field station and laboratory where researchers do long-term studies of natural populations in western Pennsylvania. In addition to being positioned for Appalachian-specific studies in ornithology, ecology, invertebrate zoology, and botany, Powdermill is a great place to spend a fun-filled day outdoors with the family.
Explore the beautiful woodlands around Powdermill, or visit the nature center, which features exhibits that highlight local wildlife, an indoor stream, and a marsh machine that uses a living greenhouse to purify waste water.
Admission to Powdermill Nature Reserve is free.
Nature Center Hours
Winter Hours
Nov. 1 – Mar 31
Wednesday–Saturday: 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Sunday: Noon–4:30 p.m.
Summer Hours
Apr 1 – Oct 31
Tuesday–Saturday: 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Sunday: Noon–4:30 p.m.
Location
GPS Coordinates
+40.160 -79.272
Address
Powdermill Nature Reserve
1795 Route 381
Rector, PA 15677
Phone
724.593.6105
Hiking & Trails
Trails are open dawn to dusk.
Events at Powdermill
Game Night at Powdermill Nature Reserve
March 31, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Learn and play the award-winning game Wingspan. Bird enthusiasts and board gamers love the game, whi...
Family Nature Walk at Powdermill
April 1, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Join us as we hit the trails for a guided nature walk! We’ll meet in the atrium of the Powdermill ...
Woodcock Walk at Powdermill Nature Reserve
April 1, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
What makes that noise that sounds like “Peent” in the night? Woodcocks! Join us as we tr...
Game Night at Powdermill Nature Reserve
April 5, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Learn and play the award-winning game Wingspan. Bird enthusiasts and board gamers love the game, whi...
Woodcock Walk at Powdermill Nature Reserve
April 7, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
What makes that noise that sounds like “Peent” in the night? Woodcocks! Join us as we tr...
Powdermill Avian Research Center Open House
April 8, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Our Open House days are FREE behind-the-scenes experiences for people to visit the bird banding lab ...
Powdermill Avian Research Center Free Guided Tour
April 12, 8:00 am - 9:30 am
Powdermill Avian Research Center (PARC) offers FREE guided tours of the bird banding lab and researc...
Powdermill Avian Research Center Open House
April 15, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Our Open House days are FREE behind-the-scenes experiences for people to visit the bird banding lab ...
Guided Bird Walk
April 16, 8:00 am - 9:30 am
Join us for one of our guided Bird Walks to explore the trails at Powdermill Nature Reserve and lear...
Science and Nature Lecture: Pennsylvania Bats: An overview of species, challenges, and conservation strategies
April 16, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Bats have numerous ecological and economic benefits including, for species in the northeast U.S., in...
Powdermill Avian Research Center Free Guided Tour
April 21, 8:00 am - 9:30 am
Powdermill Avian Research Center (PARC) offers FREE guided tours of the bird banding lab and researc...
Earth Day Walks at Powdermill
April 22, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Join us for Earth Day Nature Walks at Powdermill! On Saturday, April 22, explore the trails with you...
Guided Bird Walk
April 25, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Join us for one of our guided Bird Walks to explore the trails at Powdermill Nature Reserve and lear...
Powdermill Avian Research Center Open House
April 29, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Our Open House days are FREE behind-the-scenes experiences for people to visit the bird banding lab ...
Guided Bird Walk
May 3, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Join us for one of our guided Bird Walks to explore the trails at Powdermill Nature Reserve and lear...
Powdermill Avian Research Center Free Guided Tour
May 6, 8:00 am - 9:30 am
Powdermill Avian Research Center (PARC) offers FREE guided tours of the bird banding lab and researc...
Family Nature Walk at Powdermill
May 6, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Join us as we hit the trails for a guided nature walk! We’ll meet in the atrium of the Powdermill ...
Guided Bird Walk
May 7, 8:00 am - 9:30 am
Join us for one of our guided Bird Walks to explore the trails at Powdermill Nature Reserve and lear...
Guided Bird Walk
May 10, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Join us for one of our guided Bird Walks to explore the trails at Powdermill Nature Reserve and lear...
Powdermill Avian Research Center Free Guided Tour and Bird Walk
May 13, 8:00 am - 10:30 am
Powdermill Avian Research Center (PARC) offers FREE guided tours of the bird banding lab and researc...
Powdermill Avian Research Center Free Guided Tour
May 17, 8:00 am - 9:30 am
Powdermill Avian Research Center (PARC) offers FREE guided tours of the bird banding lab and researc...
Springtime Species
May 18, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Join us to celebrate biodiversity within unique habitats found in the Laurel Highlands! Go on a bird...
Powdermill Avian Research Center Open House
May 20, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Our Open House days are FREE behind-the-scenes experiences for people to visit the bird banding lab ...
Science and Nature Lecture: Sixty Years and Counting: The Past, Present, and Future of Avian Research at Powdermill
May 21, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Powdermill Nature Reserve, Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s environmental field research cente...
Guided Bird Walk at Donegal Lake
May 26, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Join us for an offsite Guided Bird Walk at Donegal Lake! We will meet as a group at Lake Access #1 o...
Powdermill Avian Research Center Open House
May 27, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Our Open House days are FREE behind-the-scenes experiences for people to visit the bird banding lab ...
Family Nature Walk at Powdermill
June 3, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Join us as we hit the trails for a guided nature walk! We’ll meet in the atrium of the Powdermill ...
Family Nature Walk at Powdermill
July 1, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Join us as we hit the trails for a guided nature walk! We’ll meet in the atrium of the Powdermill ...
Family Nature Walk at Powdermill
August 5, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Join us as we hit the trails for a guided nature walk! We’ll meet in the atrium of the Powdermill ...
Family Nature Walk at Powdermill
September 2, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Join us as we hit the trails for a guided nature walk! We’ll meet in the atrium of the Powdermill ...
History
Powdermill Nature Reserve was established by Carnegie Museum of Natural History in 1956 to serve as a field station for research on natural populations. General and Mrs. Richard K. Mellon and Dr. and Mrs. Alan M. Scaife presented 1,160 acres of land located about 3 miles south of Rector, Pennsylvania, for the use of Carnegie Museum of Natural History which was named “Powdermill Nature Reserve, a Research Station of Carnegie Museum.” Over the next several years, acreage was added to Powdermill Nature Reserve, and it now offers more than 2,200 acres of woodlands, streams, fields, and ponds for research and educational programs. Powdermill is home to the museum’s GIS lab, avian research center, and a new nature center with ecological exhibits.
