Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve Nature Center

Tucked along the shores of St. George Sound in Eastpoint, you’ll find one of the country’s most prestigious research labs complete with a world-class visitor center. If you ever wondered how nature works, this place is for you! The Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve Nature Center features group programs, state of the art exhibits and a great collection of local cultural artifacts.

The visitor center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. eastern time. Here, you can tour exhibits that take you on a journey from deep in the river swamps along the Apalachicola River, across Apalachicola Bay, over one of the local barrier islands and out to the Gulf of Mexico. The center also contains several large aquaria that feature local fish and turtles from the fresh, brackish and salt water habitats. Be sure to spend extra time in the Bay Discovery Room where you can actually touch the bones, shells, microscopes and a vast collection of interesting items from this incredible area. The center hosts regular workshops and a popular summertime series “Turtle Talks” during which reserve staff share great information about the area’s migrating sea turtles.

At the heart of the center, it’s all about the science. Core programs at the Reserve focus on research, resource management, education and training.

The Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve was established in 1979 as part of a system of Reserves around America to protect estuaries. The Reserve encompasses nearly 247,000 acres of public lands and waters in the Florida Panhandle. The Reserve is part of a watershed that is nearly 20,000 square miles in size that stretches from the Gulf Coast of Florida to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in North Georgia. Watery habitats within the Reserve include the lower 52 miles of the Apalachicola River and the portion of Apalachicola Bay from Indian Pass eastward through St. George Sound. Extensive bottomland hardwoods, pine flatwoods and coastal barrier islands are just a few of the natural communities that make the Reserve a true gem of natural diversity. This one estuary provides people with shrimp, crabs, fish and approximately 90% of Florida’s oyster harvest.

Nature Center Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 9 am – 4 pm