Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary 🌿 A 501(c)(3) nonprofit natural science museum & wildlife sanctuary in McKinney, TX. Explore 289 acres of trails, wildlife, education, conservation & more.

Connect with nature and discover something wild! Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary is a private 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and was founded in 1967 by Bessie Heard. Miss Heard was 80 years old when she saw the need to preserve a place where future generations could experience nature. Today, the Heard's mission of bringing nature and people together is carried out through education, particularly of young people, which emphasizes an appreciation of nature and its conservation. For more information, visit heardmuseum.org.

Mission statement: Bringing nature and people together to discover, enjoy, experience, restore and preserve our priceless environment.

Hours of operation: See www.heardmuseum.org/hours

General admission tickets: See www.heardmuseum.org/tickets

All guests are required to check in at our front desk. Special event tickets may be required for special events.

How wild can we get? 👀🐾We’re putting the FUN in fundraising this North Texas Giving Day.As we hit each donation mileston...
09/09/2026

How wild can we get? 👀🐾

We’re putting the FUN in fundraising this North Texas Giving Day.

As we hit each donation milestone, we’ll unlock a new challenge for our animal ambassadors—and eventually, our staff. Think parrot dance party. Ferrets in a pasta bowl. A bobcat ball pit. And if we hit $35,000… our staff are going into the wetlands. 🐸💦

Help us unlock them all! Early giving is open now! Make sure you share this with your fellow Heard fans. 💚

North Texas Giving Day

09/08/2026

🗳️ Have you voted for us in the Best of McKinney Awards yet? No?! We see you... and we're (lovingly) judging you! 👀

Don't worry, there's still time to make it right. Cast your vote for us under Best Family Entertainment. : https://map.proxi.co/r/bestofmckinney2026_public

09/08/2026

🦖 THEY’RE BACK! 🦖

Dinosaurs are returning to the Heard! Dinosaurs Live! opens September 26, bringing life-size animatronic dinosaurs back to the trails for a prehistoric adventure the whole family can enjoy.

And this year, there’s something NEW to dig into…a brand-new fossil dig! 🦴 Get hands-on and uncover your own prehistoric discoveries as you explore the exhibit.

🎟️ Included with general admission
💚 Free for Heard members

Come walk among the dinosaurs, dig for fossils, and experience a little prehistoric magic right here in McKinney, TX! Plan your visit at the link in our bio! 🦖🌿

Special thanks to our sponsors: Plano Tree Care Inc and Sheraton McKinney Hotel

Say hello to some of the animals who call the Heard home! 🐾Meet just a few of our 75 ambassador animals — not just resid...
09/04/2026

Say hello to some of the animals who call the Heard home! 🐾

Meet just a few of our 75 ambassador animals — not just residents, but educators, connectors, and the heartbeat of this sanctuary. And right now, early giving for North Texas Giving Day is open, so you can help provide the care they all deserve.

👉 Swipe to meet more of the crew and make a gift today: https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/heardmuseum

09/03/2026

North Texas…let’s do it! 👏

The Heard’s Board of Directors is putting some extra wild behind your generosity this North Texas Giving Day! They’ve committed to matching the first $10,000 in donations—dollar for dollar.

So your gift can go twice as far toward protecting our sanctuary, caring for our animals, inspiring learners, and connecting our community with nature.

Help us unlock the full $10,000 match and reach our $35,000 goal! 💚

North Texas Giving Day • September 17 • Link in bio

https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/heardmuseum
North Texas Giving Day Communities Foundation of Texas

There’s still room to grow a love of nature. 🌱The Heard’s homeschool program gives kids ages 5–11 the opportunity to lea...
09/02/2026

There’s still room to grow a love of nature. 🌱

The Heard’s homeschool program gives kids ages 5–11 the opportunity to learn science through hands-on experiences, outdoor exploration, and time spent in the natural world. From field investigations to wildlife discoveries, learning happens far beyond the classroom. 🔬🌿🐾

We have a few final openings for Fall 2026! If you’ve been considering a natural science program for your homeschooler, now’s the time to learn more and reserve a spot. https://www.heardmuseum.org/homeschool/

We need a muralist to help refresh our floors! 🖌️🍃The floor mural at Heard Museum needs some love! We are searching for ...
09/01/2026

We need a muralist to help refresh our floors! 🖌️🍃

The floor mural at Heard Museum needs some love! We are searching for an experienced artist to restore and touch up the existing nature mural beneath our visitors' feet. If you have experience with large-scale painting and high-traffic durable finishes, we want to hear from you.

Help us bring this immersive nature walk back to life for our visitors! Send an email to [email protected] for more info.

A special piece of Heard history is blooming this week. 🌼🎨Join us this weekend for the opening of our newest exhibit, Bo...
08/31/2026

A special piece of Heard history is blooming this week. 🌼🎨

Join us this weekend for the opening of our newest exhibit, Botanical Legacy: The Works of Mary Jo Laughlin, featuring the work of an artist whose connection to the Heard runs deep.

Mary Jo Laughlin and her husband, Harold, moved to the Heard in 1966, where the wildflowers surrounding the sanctuary inspired her renewed passion for art. She went on to become a celebrated Texas wildflower artist, creating more than 1,500 paintings and illustrations that captured the beauty and botanical accuracy of the plants she loved.

Mary Jo was also the wife of the Heard's original director, a friend of Bess Heard, and the mother of our current Director of Stewardship, Meg Latham—making her story part of the Heard's history across generations.

Come see the wildflowers that inspired her, through her eyes. 🌿

Get tickets: https://www.heardmuseum.org/tickets/

08/27/2026

The animals are ready. Are you? 🦊🐢

Early giving for North Texas Giving Day is officially open, and we're raising $35,000 to support the annual care of our ambassador animals—the ones you've come to know and love right here at the Heard!

Every dollar goes directly toward food, vet care, enrichment, and the expert keepers who show up for these animals every single day.

Make your gift today, and stay tuned, because this is just the beginning: https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/heardmuseum

08/26/2026

Something BIG is headed for the Heard… 🦖👀

Clear your calendar. Dinosaurs Live! returns to the Heard on September 26.

Address

1 Nature Place
McKinney, TX
75069

Telephone

+19725625566

Website

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