RJ and I spent a fun few hours a couple of weekends ago at a place we've wanted to go to for quite some time, The Heard Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney.

The Heard is the result of the generosity of Miss Bessie Heard who devoted most of her life to the people and city of McKinney. The museum opened October 1, 1967 and now serves more than 100,000 visitors annually.

The museum itself  maintains exhibits on Texas' venomous snakes, rocks, minerals and fossils, seashells and marine life, North Texas ecosystems and more. Including a large walk-through wetland diorama, a children's fossil dig and a marine room.

The rest of the sanctuary is 65 acres of grasslands with trails galore. One of the exhibits currently running is Dinosaurs Alive!, life-sized animatronic dinosaurs scattered all along the main trail.  It's so popular, the Heard has extended its run until February 1st, 2009. These ten dinosaurs were definitely the big draw the weekend we visited. We enjoyed seeing them but also split off from the crowds to take the paths less traveled, the Hoot Owl Trail and the Sycamore trail. Both were quiet - we only passed three other folks - and full of all sorts of things to see. I spotted something sitting on a fallen dead tree and my immediate thought was that it was an owl, after all, we WERE on the Hoot Owl Trail. I signaled to RJ, he saw the bird too and we managed to get our cameras on and aimed as he sat and posed for us. I later found out we were watching an immature Cooper's Hawk. He was a beauty - so majestic!

After he flew away, we continued on and came upon two mammoth trees a 200 year old Bur Oak and another called the Perkin's Sycamore, 150+ years old. That makes them actually older than me! These two bad boys were quite impressive and thinking about the history they've witnessed is humbling. Both were enormous and pretty easy to spot, even in amongst all the vegetation. They have signs on them too If you go out to the Heard, be sure to take the trails to see them ( a map is provided with your paid admission). We kept walking, and getting caught up in the natural beauty all around. The area was so peaceful and I was wishing we'd brought a picnic so we could stop along the way and have lunch. I'd suggest that to anyone heading out there- bring lunch or drinks and a snack to carry in your bag or backpack. When we ended up back on the main trail, we finished up with the dinosaurs and walked up to the small zoo they also have.

It's not elaborate but the Heard has a few small animals in a petting zoo environment and a dozen or so more exotic types. It all made for a very memorable day for us.


Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for seniors and children 3-12. From Dallas, take Central Expressway (US 75)
From US 75, take exit 38A East. Proceed 1 mile and turn south on Highway 5 South. Go another 3/4 mile and turn left on FM 1378. The museum is located 1 mile east of Highway 5 South on the North side of FM 1378.

Heard Museum
1 Nature Place
McKinney, Texas 75069

www.heardmuseum.org

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