Mary Ann Brittain Education Center construction is now underway
April 06, 2026
We are excited to announce that construction of the Mary Ann Brittain Education Center is currently underway. This new Education Center (MABEC) will be located at the entrance to the Prairie Ridge Ecostation, the Museum’s 45-acre outdoor education facility in West Raleigh. MABEC will allow Museum staff to offer year-round programming with our indoor classroom space, provide more accessible facilities, increase our ability to serve all of our guests, and strengthen Prairie Ridge as a hub for environmental learning.
While it was a tough call, the decision to temporarily close Prairie Ridge Ecostation was the best way to ensure guest safety while also allowing construction to proceed as efficiently as possible. The result will be a quick return to the programs and other outdoor offerings our guests have come to love. Our goal is to reopen in early spring 2027.
While general access will pause — this means no access to the entire site, including trails, outdoor classroom, the Nature PlaySpace, etc. — you can still be part of Prairie Ridge’s journey:
• Join one of our small, registration-based programs: ncmns.net/3Oo0grH
• Continue to follow @prairieridgeecostation and @naturalsciences for updates.
• Subscribe to our email newsletter to get the latest news, research, exhibit and event updates: ncmns.net/3vgKWGX
• Support the Mary Ann Brittain Education Center campaign: ncmns.net/mabec
Thank you in advance for your help and patience during this transition.
For more information about our upcoming activities, conservation news and groundbreaking research, follow @NaturalSciences on Instagram and Facebook.