Leslie Science                                                                                                  
            and Nature Center                        1831 Traver Rd. Ann Arbor  MI 48105 ■ 734-997-1553 ■ info@lesliesnc.org

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Leslie Science and Nature Center History
Hours: We are open 365 days a year from dawn till dusk. 

Admission: Free.

The Leslie House and Nature House do not have open hours.

The Critter House is open most Sundays from 12pm - 3am.  Please call 734-994-1692 to verify the schedule.

Visitors may visit the raptors any time during daylight hours.

Need directions? Click here!
Meet our staff Board of Directors Leslie Science and
      Nature Center History		 About Us

The Leslie Legacy

From 1923 through 1976, Dr. Eugene and Emily Leslie lived in a home surrounded by fields, prairie, and woods that had views of the city of Ann Arbor. Dr. Leslie was active in the field of chemical engineering and was a professor at the University of Michigan. The Leslie property was the headquarters for much of his pioneering work that developed new technologies, such as no-knock gasoline. Additionally, he and his wife Emily planted fruit trees and sold apples, peaches, cherries and raspberries. They raised Hereford cattle, hogs, and the feed to supply the animals. They built additional buildings on the site - the honey house (now the Critter House), the spray house, and the farm cottage (now the caretaker's cottage).

Emily Leslie was enthusiastically involved in community projects. She was active in the Ann Arbor Garden Club and the National Farm and Garden Association
 

The Leslies enjoyed having neighborhood children play on their land. The Leslies wanted to preserve their land for children and decided to deed their property to the City of Ann Arbor with a request that it be used for children. Emily and Eugene Leslie died within a few months of each other in 1976. Upon their death, the land and buildings were passed on to all of the citizens -- especially the children-- of Ann Arbor.

With this gift, the City established the Leslie Science Center in order to provide children with an opportunity to explore the rich natural resources around them.

In 1986, the City of Ann Arbor developed a Master Plan to reinforce the educational value of the property and honor the legacy of Dr. and Mrs. Leslie. Slowly, this plan developed into educational programs that became very popular. These programs took place in Dr. and Mrs. Leslie's house (the Leslie House) and in their garage, but the space quickly became inadequate.  The Center needed a new building. A team of visionary architects, dedicated City staff, and committed citizens worked together to design a building that would meet this need. They worked to create a building that honors the past, the present, and the future of the Center. The Nature House was built in 2000 on the footprint of Dr. Leslie's original laboratory building, and serves as a guide and a reminder to live lightly on the land. The Nature House features photovoltaic arrays, composting toilets, a grey water planting bed, and recycled materials.

In July, 2007, the Leslie Science and Nature Center separated from the City and became an independent, non-profit organization. This transition provides the Center with the best governance structure for a sustainable future. The City will continue to own and maintain the buildings and grounds. To mark this shift, the Center has changed its name slightly; we added "Nature" to become "Leslie Science and Nature Center" -- a name that fully reflects the scope and mission of our programs.

We also welcomed the chance to partner with the Great Lakes Office of National Wildlife Federation (NWF). NWF will help us with fundraising, staffing, and other systems of operation for three years as we grow into a mature non-profit.