Powdermill Nature Reserve's newly-renovated and greatly-expanded Headquarters and Visitor Center opened its doors to the public on Monday following a grand opening celebration on Sunday afternoon.

Located along in Cook Township along Route 381 south of Rector, Powdermill is Carnegie Museum of Natural History's research station and nature education center. The $5 million renovation and expansion project adds 10,300 square feet to the old 3,200 square-foot-building, while including such eco-technologies as fuel efficient heating and cooling, regionally extracted and recycled construction materials, and Western Pennsylvania's first Marsh Machine -- an ecological wastewater treatment system that uses plants to purify and recycle wastewater for non-potable uses.

Powdermill supporters, staff, and volunteers attended Sunday's grand opening. Dr. David A. Smith, director of Powdermill, said that he expects the new building will allow at least 6,000 more people to visit the center every year.

The catalyst behind the building project, which was launched in September 2006, was the long restroom lines that often plagued many a school group. "I often joke that it all began with the restrooms.

Seeing the kids lined up visually reinforced what we've all known for years," said Smith. "While we offer many popular public and school programs, we don't have adequate facilities to accommodate our visitors."

The new visitor center provides much needed space for a second large multi-purpose classroom, a permanent exhibit hall, special exhibits gallery, improved administrative areas, butterfly and herb gardens, an outdoor classroom/courtyard, and, of course, restrooms, as well as other spaces that provide a bridge to the outdoors.

Two permanent exhibits are also part of the expansion project. A living stream utilizing wastewater treated by the new marsh machine will demonstrate the benefits of this natural process by showing that the plants and animals living in Powdermill Run can live happily in it. The second permanent exhibit capitalizes upon the years of research conducted by the Powdermill Avian Research Center by highlighting the Birds of the Ligonier Valley.
A new special exhibits gallery will allow Powdermill to host traveling exhibits from around the world as well as bringing Carnegie Museum of Natural History artifacts to Westmoreland County.

Support for the renovation and expansion project came from over 150 individual donors and foundations.

" It is my great pleasure to welcome all of you to Powdermill's new home and to thank you for all you have done for us." said Dr. Smith in his opening remarks Sunday. "I believe that Dr. Graham Netting would be very pleased to see what we have built on the foundation he laid 51 years ago." The late Dr. Netting, director of Carnegie Museum at that time, was founder of Powdermill, and carried on a number of research projects there after his retirement.
" As you all have seen, we have now achieved many of the goals of our expansion plan -- restrooms with an interior entrance and much greater capacity; an environmentally responsible wastewater treatment system; a second classroom; rooms for permanent and temporary exhibits, both of which you have seen today; more space for our education staff; and office and lab space for Dr. Andy Mack, our Bill and Ingrid Rea conservation biologist.
" Each of these improvements is, in its own way, an important component of the future of Powdermill. That future continues to rest on the three-legged stool of Research, Education, and Preservation."

Smith thanked David Hillenbrand, president of Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, along with Jack Barbour, chairman of the board of Carnegie Museum, and all the "friends and benefactors" who have helped to see that the "future of Powdermill is brighter than at any time since its founding 51 years ago.

" We are seeing more research being done here, more educational programs being developed, an even stronger commitment to preservation and conservation with our GIS mapping research and habitat management planning, and the development of partnerships with Pitt, CMU, Penn State and Cornell."

Smith made particular mention of the "blossoming research collaboration with the National Aviary on the Golden Eagle project.

This collaboration of research scientists and technicians on a very important practical conservation problem has resulted in some excellent scientific data, an investment in the project by the Quebec ministry of natural resources, some wonderful PR, the potential for a breakthrough in tracking technology, and heightened prestige for both our institutions.
" At the same time, our education staff is now planning the curriculum for our long-dreamed of Field Studies Academy, which we anticipate will be piloted in the fall of 2008. This residential program will bring highly-motivated, science-oriented high school students here to Powdermill for a week-long program in environmental sustainability and field research techniques.

" ...The pieces are beginning to come into place for Powdermill to be the high quality research station and educational venue that it deserves to be," Dr. Smith continued. "Our cabins are improving, thanks to successful birdhouse auction events; fiber optic internet service is coming here shortly from that pole across the street, thanks to Laurel Highlands Telephone Company; safe and secure data storage is now being developed by John Fogg, IT Director for CMP, and now we are able to be in this beautiful new building where research and education can flourish together."

Smith also thanked the contractor, Cavcon Construction Inc.; architects, Pfaffmann + Associates; owner's representative, Jay Labarthe; exhibits designer, Bally Design; Concept Art Gallery, and the Cook Township supervisors for their support and encouragement.
He also thanked CMNH scientific illustrator Mark Klinger for providing the art for the first exhibit in the new Special Exhibits Gallery, and Cokie Lindsay for planning the grand opening event.

Dr. Smith also paid tribute to the "Giants of Powdermill, without whose dedication, support and encouragement we would not be enjoying this day and this building -- Graham Netting, Bill and Ingrid Rea, Tom Nimick, Cordelia Scaife May, John Galey, Betty Abernethy, Ruth Scott, Gen. and Mrs. Richard K. Mellon, Dr. and Mrs. Alan Magee Scaife, Helen M. Schmidt, Lawrence "Pete" Woods, Bob Waters, Arthur Van Buskirk, Frank Magee, and Edward O'Neil. We owe them continued respect for what they did for Powdermill."
He added that "many of the present and future Giants of Powdermill are here with us today."
Margot B. Woodwell, chair of the Campaign for Powdermill, gave an update on the fundraising efforts to date. She noted that $5,144,684 has been raised for new construction, plus $1.82 million toward a $4 million endowment.

U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy was on hand to present a Congressional citation to Dr. Smith. He suggested that the millions spent on the new facilities will be repaid in "tiny amounts a million times" as future generations are educated about the environment.
John A. Barbour, chairman of the CMNH board, commented that the new facilities are "spectacular," and among the best in the world for the education and research programs they were designed for. He congratulated Dr. Smith for bringing Powdermill so far along in such a short time, and commented that Powdermill is now "as far ahead as any part of the museum." Barbour also congratulated the "present and future Powdermill Giants who are here today."

Among those attending the celebration was Tom Stickle, who contributed the switchgrass that was baled and incorporated into one of the exterior walls of the expanded facility.

Return to Press Releases & News