We recently renovated our Visitor Center and added a second floor to the building. At this time the first floor of the Visitor Center contains the newly enlarged Eagle's Nest Book and Gift Shop, along with a growing collection of wildlife exhibits, an authentic eagle's nest, and two TV monitors for watching live video from the Osprey Cam and Eagle Cam. Also added to the first floor are new restrooms, as well as a meeting room.

The second floor contains a set of TV monitors for the Osprey Cam and Eagle Cam, as well as bird exhibits and a bird-watcher's observatory where visitors can use spotting scopes to view the Osprey Cam platform, the Blackwater River, and the marsh. This observatory is called the "Wild Birds Unlimited Pathways to Nature Observatory" and was made possible by a grant from the Pathways to Nature conservation fund, which is a partnership between Wild Birds Unlimited stores and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Access to the second floor is via a staircase or a small wheelchair-friendly elevator.

Also on the second floor is a Birding and Natural History Library. With the assistance of the Friends of Blackwater, Blackwater NWR constructed the research library, which contains 450 volumes of birding and wildlife books donated by long-time volunteer Dick Kleen. The library is presently only open by appointment until such time as there are enough volunteers to staff the library on a regular basis. To make an appointment to visit the library, please call the refuge at 410-228-2677. The current list of library books available can be found in our library inventory list (193KB PDF). Also please read our donation policy (9KB PDF) to learn about donating materials to the library.

Outside the back of the building is the rapidly growing Butterfly and Beneficial Insect Garden. Visitors can walk the garden and observe the plants, flowers, birds, and insects. Visitors should also be sure to look for adult and immature bald eagles soaring over the garden and foraging in the nearby marsh.

Visitor Center hours are Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day).