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The Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC) is an educational center dedicated to teaching visitors about the unique 3,200 acres of Presque Isle and the many different forms of life that inhabit the peninsula. TREC also serves as a center for research -- contributing to conservation efforts and promoting environmental awareness, helping to ...
TREC is a unique destination for learning, wonder, and fun at the entrance to Presque Isle State Park. It offers interactive exhibits, a research center, a theater, and a gift shop about the 3,200 acres of Presque Isle and the Great Lake watersheds.
Learn about the unique 3,200 acres of Presque Isle and the many forms of life that inhabit it at TREC, an educational and research center. TREC offers free admission, interactive exhibits, a glass-enclosed tower, a movie, and a gift shop.
Named after former Governor of Pennsylvania and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, the center opened on May 26, 2006. It features 65,000 square feet (6,039 m 2) of space including interpretive exhibits highlighting local and regional flora and fauna, as well as information on the human history and culture of the area.
- Hours and Directions
- What to See and Do at The Tom Ridge Environmental Center
- The Observation Tower
- The Playground
- Final Thoughts
- Related Attractions
The first and second floor exhibit areas of the Tom Ridge Environmental Center are open daily from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. year-round, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. The TREC is located at 301 Peninsula Drive, Erie, PA 16505, at the neck of the Presque Isle Peninsula.
There are numerous exhibits explaining the varied habitats that exist on Presque Isle, as well as the permanent and migratory wildlifethat call those habitats home. Other exhibits detail Presque Isle’s history as a tourist destination. There are exhibits detailingthe role Presque Isle peninsula played in U.S. history. And some exhibits that are pur...
If heights don’t bother you, there’s a 75 foot tall observation tower you can either walk up (via a spiral ramp inside the glass), or just take an elevator to the top. From the viewing deck up top , you have a great vantage point to take in Lake Erieand the seemingly-infinite horizon beyond
If you have young kids, there’s a neat playgroundon the back side of the Tom Ridge Environmental Center. Rather than a bunch of modern play equipment, this playground features things like a wooden obstacle to climb over… And a pipe to crawl through.
If you’ve never been to Presque Isle State Park, the TREC should be your first stop, as you’ll have such a better understanding of what you’re seeing as you explore the peninsula. The Tom Ridge Environmental Center is the gateway to Presque Isle State Park, the gateway to learning about Pennsylvania’s only seashore, and the gateway to fun!
Presque Isle State Park is Pennsylvania’s most-visited State Park, with over 4 million people a yearventuring onto this sandy peninsula that arcs out into Lake Erie. Taking the Lady Kate Boat Tour at Presque Isle State Park allows you to see the peninsula and Lake Erie by boat! Exploring the Historic Lighthouses of Erie, PA takes you on a detailed ...
Tom Ridge Environmental Center Foundation, Erie, Pennsylvania. 4,413 likes · 13 talking about this · 3,632 were here. The mission of the Tom Ridge Environmental Center Foundation at Presque Isle is...
Learn about the mission, education, research, and visitor services of the Tom Ridge Environmental Center Foundation, a partnership between the private sector and the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC) and Presque Isle. The TREC Foundation also provides educational programming, research, and visitor experience at the highest level.
