Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary is a museum in McKinney, Texas, United States. It is located on 200 acres of land with five miles of hiking trails.

The wildlife sanctuary began as the private estate of oil magnate/philanthropist Kenneth E. Heard and his wife Evelyn in 1971. After they both died, their daughter Ramona took over ownership. On January 2, 2005, the Heard family announced donating the entire estate to an independent nonprofit organization. The museum opened on December 5 of that year.

Heard Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and designated a state natural landmark. As one of fewer than 30 museums in the United States certified in both natural history and art, Heard Museum is a unique cultural institution dedicated to interpreting and preserving the heritage of North Texas.

This museum is an excellent place to learn about the ecosystem and wildlife all around North Texas, from its trees and grasslands teeming with life to its lakes and ponds brimming with biodiversity. The Heard Museum provides a unique opportunity for people to see, hear, touch and interact with the animal kingdom from every place on this Earth, from its Australian exhibits to its African ones. This museum is a great way to spend the day with friends or family learning about wildlife and appreciating nature.

A visit will allow audiences to explore and discover animals and ecosystems from around the globe. The Heard provides over 11,000 square feet of exhibit space with state-of-the-art dioramas, live animal habitats, aquariums, hands-on experiences and special exhibitions. Visitors are encouraged to touch things at the museum to have a better sense of what they are seeing.