For me, it was way too hot today for hiking/bird-watching, so this comment is focused on the indoor displays and the house tour. I'm not a "bird person," whatever that means. What I mean is, I'm not a bird watcher and don't know much about bird habits or the sounds they make or their migration. But I can say that I learned a lot from the displays here today and enjoyed walking through the entire thing. It gave me a better appreciation for birds in nature, how they fly, the threats to their survival, etc. And the place isn't preachy. Just a very informative, pleasant learning experience. There's good information here that's well and efficiently presented; it's just enough - it's not stuffy or oppressive. The staff is helpful. We were fortunate that a house tour was beginning during our visit, and we joined that tour (included in the admission price). The tour is given by a volunteer docent. It was very informative, and we learned a great deal about Audubon (the good, bad and the ugly) and his life, marriage, his work and his valuable contributions to the field of bird studies. I'm giving this 5 stars for what we saw, and I'm assuming (confidently) that a walk/hike through the grounds on a nice day would be great. read more

Upon leaving I said to the receptionist, "I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would." To which he replied, "thank you. I guess." When I go to an art museum I rarely read placards. Just interested in the art. At the Audobon center, I read everything. So interesting to learn about migration, how birds fly, their physiology ... and John James Audobon himself. What a colorful character. The mission of the center is to educate people to cherish and protect the natural world by preserving Audobon's artistic and scientific legacy. I had no particular interest in birds, but I was fascinated. The center is located on a bird sanctuary -- and the grounds are beautiful. There are trails which visitors are free to explore. BTW, if you're looking for a venue for a special event, check this place out. Staff was setting up for a wedding while we were there, and I was impressed. read more

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I HAD THE BEST DAY IN SOOOOO LONG HERE!!! My husband and I love birding and hiking and just being outside. We came here this past weekend at sunrise to see what we could find. Upon arriving I couldn't help but notice how large and beautiful the grounds were! I enjoyed walking around and exploring. You can hike, you can walk, you can view the gardens, check out their museum, or do whatever you dang well please. If I could do it over again I would even consider having my wedding here, that's how beautiful it is. As we were wandering around we noticed some cage enclosures and decided to take a closer look. I'm so glad we did because a bunch of beautiful (non-releasable) birds live on-site! A Great Horned Owl named Oden flew right up to us and hooted repeatedly. The blue jay (named Conrad) was also showing off for us. I am so glad we didn't walk by the enclosures without taking a closer look. It was so cool to be so close to all those birds! I was bummed that their cages didn't have more details on the birds, but when I got home I found that their website has their whole history: https://johnjames.audubon.org/visit/resident-birds Once we walked around the paved areas we decided to take a hike in the woods. Upon entering the bird blind we saw a mature red-tailed hawk on the hunt for breakfast. It was amazingly close to us and unbothered by our presence. We walked a few more feet and then I noticed a Great Horned Owl sleeping in a tree! The rest of our hike was great - we saw lots more birds - but on the way out we decided to swing by where the hawk and owl were to see if they were still there. Surprisingly, the hawk was there with the remains of the breakfast he caught and the owl was also still chillin' in the same tree! This time, though, she was awake for us. This truly was an epic outing for me and I can't wait to return. read more

An excellent place for a walk, hike, and cultural excursion! The indoors exhibit is fairly new and the facilities are modern. There is much to learn here. The grounds are gorgeous! There are paved paths and natural surfaces. The trails are easy to medium, depending on your preference. This is a must see location in Montgomery County, PA! read more

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What a special place. After parking we walked over the charming bridge. I enjoyed seeing the owls outside & marvel at the Oodles of squirrels scurrying about and feeling in the bird feeders on this brisk February day. What charming old buildings and stone walls. Enjoy the winterscape. Coming up close to John James Audubon's home. As the plaque at the front states... this AUDUBON's the first home in The United States. And what a thrill it is to enjoy his habitat. His views . The scent of all this fresh nature is invigorating. Now to enter his home. There is a fantastic gift shop with beautiful stationary. Beautiful birds like owl, cardinals! I love them! And the dragon fly stationary! The art is brilliant. There are bird feeders and lovely jewelry too! We bought a laminated foldout of birds of this area. I know my cousin would love to identify the owls and birds! Ok so I love the wall art here . The wallpaper is charming and special. Enjoy learning about John Audubon's story and his significance to America and his contributions to art and science and conservation. What a treat. Go up the stairs!! See his bedroom. Learn his story!! There is art on display by Liz . Her art is so charming and to see it displayed in this very place seems like a perfect match! Both Audubon and Liz Griesser show through their thoughtful work and life passion. They show that they have love and appreciation for this area... for this soil ... for all the things that grow and scurry and feed and thrive in this land. Pennsylvanians can fully identify these natural earthly treasures . All can appreciate the beauty of it. The art Liz Griesser fully compliments this esteemed venue. Showing the peaceful colorful whimsical charms of pastoral life here in Bucks County Pennsylvania. I'm smitten. I really enjoyed coming here! It was my first visit. I look forward to coming back during each season!!i read more

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We will be having our wedding at this venue in October 2025 and were blown away by its natural beauty and tranquility from our first visit there. There's so many unique areas to explore and we're so excited to celebrate our special day there. It is the perfect combination of rustic and elegant! read more

Great place for a walk and to bird watch. They also have a few rescued birds you can visit. My favorite thing to do is to sit on the rocking chairs and watch the view. Highly recommend read more

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Recently opened summer 2019 the Audubon Center at Mill Grove is worth a couple hours of your time. It is architecturally beautiful and I guarantee you will learn something about birds, their habitats, the eco system from the informative, interactive displays. The place is new and pristine with stories about the early life of John James Audubon who did more to raise awareness of birds in their natural environment than anyone had ever done before. His works of art are treasured by collectors the world over. Many of his bird plates are on display. The films about his life and the urgent need for habitat preservation are persuasive and well done. Entry fees are reasonable. I like it that the entry fee for Military is free. read more

John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove - Inside - Museums Near Me - Audubon, Pennsylvania

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Currently my fiancé and I are going through the planning process of our wedding. The JAM staff is very knowledgeable and has helped ease our nerves. After going through two planning sessions so far, it has been very helpful with making sure we are where we need to be in the planning process. I definitely recommend them for your wedding venue!! read more

Attended a beautiful wedding here during a stunning October afternoon. The wedding was held outdoors and cocktail hour was in the renovated barn. The reception and dinner was attached to the center. As the guests started dancing, two entire walls slid open to allow air through. There was a gas fire pit where we were served the fixings for s'mores after cake. Top notch all the way. read more

Visited the John James Audubon Center also known as Mill Grove Wildlife Sanctuary this summer. The grounds feature several buildings you can explore with artwork and artifacts from the lifetime of John James Audubon. There is an owl sanctuary on the property and that was my favorite spot. We got to observe owls in a very close up setting. There are trails throughout the property which would be of interest to hikers and nature explorers. There is also an event venue suitable for weddings and banquets. read more

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What a great venue for a wedding! The John James Audubon Center is absolute beautiful. There's so many wonderful spots for photos and the stunning barn is the perfect indoor ceremony option. The staff was very accommodating and the food was delicious! read more

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With just under 20 days to go until the big day, my fiancé and I are extremely excited for our 10/16/2022 wedding at the John James Audubon Center. We absolutely fell in love with the grounds during our initial tour of the venue (just down the road from our favorite stores and restaurants in the King of Prussia area)! My fiancé and I wanted a blend of nature and rustic grounds, and this checked the boxes for every aspect of our wedding -- ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. We found the Pavilion alongside the main trail was perfect for our reception, with a beautiful fireplace behind the sweetheart table, lit outdoor space with a firepit, plenty of space for dancing and sleek vertically-opening doors that allow an entire wall of the space to open to the outside. We've worked with Desiree for the initial tour, Shannon and Bonnie for the initial booking/logistics & wonderful group tasting, and Kimberly for our specific event details. The staff at JJAC are all very kind, welcomed our questions along the way (even the dumb ones!), and displayed excellent response times. read more

This was a fun, last-minute addition to our little SEPA vacation. The staff was friendly. My husband and I enjoyed the hands-on aspects of the museum, which is not just for children. I liked the setup of the conservation side and the side about Mr. Audubon. The grounds were gorgeous. We would definitely visit again if we were in the area. read more

Note: this review is from my experience attending a wedding held here, so it doesn't include the grounds or wildlife aspect of it besides what portions of it were used as a venue for the wedding. I have to say that the staff at the Mill Grove Wildlife Sanctuary are impeccable! My cousin's wedding just so happened to be on the afternoon of one of the worst rainstorms of the year (August 21, 2011)... what rotten luck! However, the staff members were running in the rain brining us umbrellas, sweeping the water out of the ceremony area, and climbing ladders to be sure the doors were shut properly and not leaking during the storm. The pavilion where the ceremony and cocktail hour were held was fantastic - small, but nicely organized, well-kept, and clean. The bathrooms were pretty good... not like a 5-star hotel, but not like a campground either. The rehearsal was held in what used to be John James Audubon's barn, but you would never think it as a barn the way the sanctuary maintains it! Beautiful high ceiling with exposed wood, old but structurally stable concrete walls, the smell of old hardwood... it was beautiful! Overall, with the way the wedding went off even in horrible weather, I'd recommend Mill Grove to anyone looking for a beautiful spot for an event - wedding or otherwise! read more

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A 45 minute drive from center city Philly, on a beautiful fall day we headed to the Mill Grove wildlife Sanctuary to visit the Ann Chahbandour painting and sculpture exhibit at the John James Audubon center and hike the loop afterwards. We arrived at the center which is comprised of multiple beautiful old stone houses, many are used as event space and a wedding was going on. We walked past the event buildings and bridesmaids in burgundy satin gowns, down the hill to the museum. The building which housed the museum was the actual house that John James Audubon lived in in the early 1800's. He studied and painted the native birds and the museum is filled with his beautiful work, and other gorgeous paintings, sculptures and natural artifacts relating to birds. On the second floor we found the sculpture and painting exhibit of Ann Chahbandour, a light filled room displaying a large sculptural carousel with animal figures in a base of flames and gold leaf details in the center of the room. Ms Chahbandour's sculptural work is theatrical, conjures mythological stories, and is filled with other-worldly decorative accents. Her paintings included birds, owls and squirrels native to the Mill Grove Wildlife Sanctuary. Ms Chahbandour's paintings are both illustrative and graphic with an incredible play on color and pattern. The work is for sale and many paintings and sculptures have been sold already. Ann Chahbandour's exhibit it on through November 26th of this year. We began our 2.5 mile loop hike through the sanctuary grounds. The trees were gold, rust and red, a beautiful fall day! Our hike took us by 5 deer, a groundhog, a river, pond, and a pedestrian bridge. Highly recommend making a day trip! read more

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We checked out the Audubon Museum and the kids did a little colored pencil activity upstairs. Mostly it was for me, but the gift shop was fun and I don't mind paying $4 fee to help support the Audubon Society. We went during the day and there was a kids' camp there who rent the grounds. My kids wanted to hang out with them, but that wasn't really an option lol read more

Having our wedding at John James Audubon has been a fantastic experience. The grounds are beyond beautiful and the staff has been super accommodating with all of our requests. read more

John James Audubon is a beautiful venue. So far the staff have been very helpful and have worked towards making our special day amazing.

Such a disappointment. I told the front desk staffer that we were first time visitors, & she just pointed to the brochures & that was it. There was one docent led tour a day, & the staffer said it had already left. The birds are brought inside their houses on cold days, so we didn't see any. Paying $14 for the "museum," which was basically just three rooms, would have been a waste of money so we left. The trails would have been nice in the warmer months. Don't waste your time. read more

My husband and I visited Mill Grove Wildlife Sanctuary - John James Audubon Center after having ridden past it on the Perkiomen Trail and the Audobon Loop Trail. The site is so beautiful, I wish we could have spent the entire day here. We began by touring the historic house. Built in 1762, it was the first house owned by John James Audoban. It houses a museum displaying original Audubon prints, oil paintings, and Audubon memorabilia. I liked the first edition wildlife prints and the restored master bedroom. We also enjoyed the current exhibit, "Both Downy and Durable: Feathers of Native Birds Drawn by Alice Sharp." Outside the house, we saw the owl enclosure, featuring several species of native owls. We then saw the Lost Bird Project. This is a temporary exhibit, featuring five larger than life sculptures of extinct birds These are situated along the entrance road and include the Great Auk, the Heath Hen, the Labrador Duck, the Carolina Parakeet, and perhaps the saddest case of all, the Passenger Pigeon. The Passenger Pigeon went from a billion to none between the mid 1800s and 1914 when the last one, Martha, died at the Cincinnati Zoo. The Passenger Pigeon will be the subject of an upcoming exhibit here, which I'm sorry my husband and I will miss. The site also features an extensive trail system, about 5 miles in all. The trails provide excellent opportunities for birding, canoeing, exploring old mine ruins, or just getting a peaceful hike in. read more

I grew up exploring the woods protected in the Audubon Bird Sanctuary as I knew it. I loved it. It was a place to let the imagination run freely. There was a creek in which to study the sunny, old abandoned mines (closed off, of course) old mine car rails and even a graveyard for some of the unlucky miners. There was a great, dilapidated tower and a "Dead Man's Hill." Who knows if any of this is still there -- I haven't been there for years. The memory is phenomenal, though. Take your kids and let them explore! There is a museum on the site. It is the only true Audubon house still standing in America. It is spooky enough to creep out some of the heartiest young adventurers! read more

This is a review of my recent wedding at the beautiful John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove. There are few times in life where you expect and hope for perfection, and your wedding day is one of them. We were lucky enough to experience the perfection that is Jeffrey Miller Catering & Co. at the John James Audubon Center and it's staff - from our incredibly talented, always available and stress-relieving planner Shannon Mullane, to the attentive and professional waitstaff and bartenders, and the creative and accommodating chefs and kitchen staff, our day was PERFECT! Prior to our big day, about three weeks before our event, they had re-sodded the grounds and made some unplanned improvements to the grounds that we were very pleased with. The Audubon Center staff was tidying the grounds the day before at the rehearsal, and everything was absolutely gorgeous. Our ceremony was held outside at the honey locust tree. The chairs were arranged in the shade for our guests comfort, and all had a good view of the altar. The cocktail hour was held in the barn, which was air conditioned and quite a nice relief after sitting outside for 30 minutes. The barn is beautiful by itself with original stonework and exposed wood beams with some simple strings light hung to accentuate the natural beauty of the surroundings. The dinner and dancing was held in the pavilion which also had beautiful exposed wooden rafters with strings lights, ceiling fans to ensure a cool breeze throughout the pavilion. The stone fireplace is elegant but understated and a perfect location for our sweetheart table. Our family, friends and wedding guests could not stop raving about the natural beauty of the venue, delectable hors d'oeuvres and entrees and overall quality of service we all experienced at Audubon! Overall, we would highly recommend this location to anyone looking to be married outside surround by natural beauty of green grass, beautiful trees and gardens. We are forever grateful to everyone to making our day (and planning process) AMAZING! read more

We're getting married at John James this May. The JAM team has been a pleasure to work with as we plan our special day. Our desire for a "stations" and no-assigned seating has been met with brainstorming and ideas on how to make the best party ever. We can't wait to try all the food again and have a wonderful memorable day with family and friends. read more

This is a review of John James Audubon Center as a wedding venue. I am getting married at John James Audubon Center this year, and couldn't be happier with my choice! The grounds are absolutely beautiful, and they have so many areas you can utilize (all included in the site rental fee). The apple orchard, barn, and pavilion areas utilized for weddings are all unique and breathtaking with a very rustic feel. All of the staff are super friendly and accommodating, and so easy work work with. The exclusive caterer (Jeffrey A Miller) is also incredible! read more

This rustic area has the most beautiful views. My husband and I will be having our vow renewal there this coming June and cannot say enough about the grounds. The Audubon Center was the only venue we looked at where we felt that we would not miss out on any beauty if we had to move our ceremony/cocktail hour into the rustic barn as opposed to being entirely outside. The Center is close enough to us that we can take our pup there for a long walk while daydreaming about our upcoming event. The staff is incredibly professional and flexible, which is a MUST in this crazy COVID world. Cannot recommend the Audubon Center enough!!! read more

Beautiful place for a walk. Loved the owls and the temporary art of the extinct birds. The only negative is late open on Sunday. read more

John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove - Extinct bird art exhibit till April 2015. Very nice! - Museums Near Me - Audubon, Pennsylvania

The tour is bad. The guide, who I assume is a volunteer, talked too much and has a heavy accent and speaks far too quietly making him indecipherable. Waste of time not to mention $14 per person. The museum and grounds are ok. But the tour was brutal. Very disappointed. read more

John James Audubon was the most beautiful venue we could imagine for our wedding last week. When we toured the space, we instantly fell in love with the space and several options for the various wedding events from the apple orchard to the open air pavilion. The Audubon and Jeffrey Miller Catering staff we worked with throughout the process were so helpful and answered many of our questions as we were planning our wedding during a pandemic. Our planner, Shelley, made everything so easy for us. Shelley was prepared with suggestions and guidance every time we spoke with her and we felt like our day was in the best hands. On our wedding day, Shelley took all the stress away from us serving as a central contact for our band and florist as they arrived and checking in with us through the night to ensure we did not want for anything. The food was also AMAZING! Guests raved about cocktail hour and we cannot wait to dive back into our cake next year. I would highly recommend this venue for anyone looking for an elegant natural wedding! Thank you Shelley and JAM! read more

Attended a wedding here, was a great time! Very nice outdoor area, huge tent, probably around 130 people in there with room to spare. Awesome fire pit was set up behind the tent, with a Ladder Toss game set up as well! The catering staff was very friendly and the DJ/entertainment absolutely killlled it -- Wire Up Entertainment! http://justgetwired.com/. They had the place rockin all night, and the photo booth they provided was a big hit! All around, very professional all around and it was a classy night. read more

I am attending a wedding and could not be more disappointed. Our table was not served dinner and when one of my table mates made them aware they almost did not believe her. We were then served cold meals. We barely finished & they began clearing everything This place may be picturesque but that's just not enough. Beware of this place if you choose it for your venue. read more

My daughter and son-in-law just got married this past Saturday at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove. What a lovely venue for their wedding! The ceremony itself took place in the apple orchard under lovely and majestic trees, providing for some beautiful pictures I'm sure! Guests then spent an hour or so having a cocktail reception in a quaint, old stone barn on the property (a very short distance from the apple orchard), followed by the wedding reception in the pavilion (which is a short distance and right up a small incline from the stone barn). The rest of the Mill Grove property is absolutely beautiful and well worth the stroll around the grounds prior to the reception. Shannon M. helped us every step of the way, from the initial planning stages right through to the end of the wedding reception. As parents, you wish for your children to have the event of their dreams, and Shannon and staff at the John James Audubon Center, along with Jeffrey Miller Catering helped us to accomplish just that! Thank you so very much, and I'm sure many other couples will find this venue just stunning and perfectly suited for their big day! read more

We are anxiously anticipating our wedding at JJAC in 2 weeks! One of the many positive aspects of having a wedding at JJAC is that even if it rains for our planned outdoor ceremony, the historic barn is a great and beautiful back-up plan for us. I won't even be sad if it does rain! read more

The grounds and facility are very beautiful to explore and a great place to visit on sunny day. However I have helped work a few weddings here and the Audubon staff members, particularly the site supervisor are a pain to work with. She and several staff members are very rude and do not represent the facility in a professional manner. I would caution having your wedding here because they are not pleasant to work with. Again, great facility but unfriendly site staff. read more

The John James Audubon Center is awesome!! The park is beautiful, and there are nice trails to explore. Be sure to check out the owl cages! And after you've walked the grounds, you can relax in the rocking chairs on the porch of the historic house which overlooks the meadow. Not only is it a great place to take a walk, but it's also a great place to have a wedding! The orchard is a great spot for an outdoor ceremony, or you can choose to go indoors and have the wedding in the quaint barn. The pavilion accommodates a large party and the food is prepared by Jeffrey Miller. There are very few, if any, venues in the Philadelphia area better than JJAC! read more