North American Bear Center - Ely, MN
Posted by: 
lenron
N 47° 53.933 W 091° 53.292
15T E 583096 N 5305659
North American Bear Center located in Ely, MN.
Waymark Code: WM95V8
Location: Minnesota, United States
Date Posted: 07/03/2010
Views: 7
The North American Bear Center (NABC) is located on Highway 169 in Ely, MN. The bear center is an awesome place to stop for the entire family. Even before you get into the bear center it is educational and informative. Outside the building are bear statues, plants with signs indicating why bears eat the plants they do. Once you step inside, it is awesome. You are greeted by bear statues, a great gift shop and then the exhibits themselves.
The Center opened in 2007. A huge wood wall with a wonderful wildlife mural greets you as you walk in. Then there are many, many wildlife exhibits, a large bear skeleton, a wall of video cameras showing all types of bear activity, a large theater showing a bear documentary, sounds filter through the entire complex with nature sounds. For the little ones, there is a Cub room that has many interactive activities for kids of all ages.
But the highlight of the center is the wall sized glass window that overlooks the bear enclosure. The wall overlooks the pond and waterfalls in the bear area. The center is home to three bears and each hour the volunteers lead some enrichment activity. While I was there they did a feeding and it was awesome. You can view the activity through the glass windows or you can go outside and watch from the second floor observation deck.
The mission of the center is to provide education, research and rehabilitation. The center has webcams online and just this last fall featured the birth of a new wild cub.
This is a must see wildlife center, focusing on the aspects of human and bear interaction, hunting, etc.
Admission Fees:
$8.50 for adults
Hours of operation:
Hours:
Fall Hours
Sept 13—Oct 24 Daily 10:00 am—5:00 pm
Oct 25—Nov 28 Fri & Sat 10:00 am—5:00 pm
Winter Hours
Dec 26—Jan 3 Daily 10:00 am—5:00 pm
Feb 1—Apr 30 Fri & Sat 10:00 am—5:00 pm
Summer Hours
May 1—May 27 Daily 10:00 am—5:00 pm
May 28—Sept 12 Daily 9:00 am—7:00 pm
Will open for groups of 8 or more with 24-hour advance notice
Admission:
Adults and Teens $8.50
Seniors 65+ $7.50
Children 3-12 $4.50
Children under 3 Free
Members Free
Services Provided:
Gift shop, interactive displays, interpretive trails, videoes, webcams and more
Parking: Not Listed
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Visit Instructions:
There will be no requirement for posting a visit; but a photo of you with your GPS or just your GPS somewhere on the museum grounds or in the museum would be fun. Preferrably at the entrance or near the museum sign. Actually going IN the museum is also NOT required for posting a log.