Hurstville Interpretive Center

Jackson County, IA

Email Share

Share This Event

Email to a Friend

view of the Center from the east on Hurstville Road Bird Blind Hurstville Marsh Bridge, Picnic Shelter and Big Blue Stem

Discover Hurstville Interpretive Center in Maquoketa

Welcome to the headquarters of Jackson County Conservation. The Hurstville Interpretive Center offers visitors a chance to explore natural resources at their leisure. Step inside to better understand the story behind our natural and historic resources through the many exhibits. Enjoy the beauty of nature as you step outside to discover the prairie and wetland.  In the restored native prairie you can search out reptiles, colorful wildflowers, and a world of insects. Visit the pollinator garden to view native plants as well as our many pollinators. Take your binoculars and see what you can find living or visiting the wetlands during the different seasons.

Features Available at Various Facilities

  • A/C
  • Cooking / eating utensils
  • Electricity
  • Handicap Accessible
  • Heating
  • Kitchenette
  • Microwave
  • Picnic Table
  • Pressurized water
  • Refuse cans
  • Restroom
  • Table with chairs
  • Wi-Fi
  • Staff on hand to assist visitors
  • Information on attractions in Jackson County
  • Information on natural resources
  • No entrance fee, donations welcome
  • Handicap accessible
  • Clean Restrooms
  • Over 20 indoor and outdoor exhibits and activities for the whole family including:  
    • Enclosed bee hive (with live bees!)
    • Live reptiles
    • Dioramas of Iowa ecosystems - wetland, prairie, and woodland
    • Walk through cave exhibit 
    • and more.....
  • Natural Playscape: catch a frog or tadpole in the pond using nets and buckets provided, balance on logs and stumps, find your way through our prairie maze, build with sticks, bricks and rocks, play checkers or tic-tac-toe with colored rocks and more! Playscape is located throughout pollinator garden on the west side of the building.
  • 1/2 mile hiking trail
  • 15-acre restored prairie  
  • 18-acre wetland with boardwalk, observational deck, and bird blind 
  • Fishing pond
  • Bird blind
  • Picnic shelter
  • Pollinator garden
  • Frog pond 
  • Public programs
  • Group tours
  • School trips
  • Community Room - available for reservation
  • Solar array - producing ~100% of electricity for the Center, click here to view production

Featured Events

Facilities at this Park

View All Facilities

Activities at this Park

View All Activities

Nearby Attractions

An email was sent to your friend, thanks!