The Iain Nicolson Audubon Center is set along the beautiful Platte River. This education/visitor center not only provides office space for the staff, but also has a classroom/conference room, educational displays, a viewing area of the river and much more. This multi-purpose building is available for rent for business meetings or special events.

The visitors' center is open year-round, except most holidays and the week between Christmas and New Year's. The Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 am - 4 pm, and closed on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free and donations to support our conservation work and education programs are always welcome. Masks are required inside the building. For directions to the Center, click here. 

Take a virtual tour of our gift shop and shop online! 

History of the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary

The site was considered one of the most pristine Sandhill Crane habitats along the Platte River with its wide channels, few in-stream trees and unobstructed views. The longest running wildlife conference, first known as Audubon’s Spring River Conference and then as Rivers and Wildlife Celebration and now Audubon’s Nebraska Crane Festival, was held in Kearney every March since 1971 and provided impetus for conservation work of the Platte River ecosystem. The Crane Festival ended in 2019 and events are now expanded throughout the spring migration season. The first crane viewing blind trip on the sanctuary occurred in 1975. 

In 1988, National Audubon Society purchased the 362-acre farm and buildings where the Center is now located. As visitation grew, the office space became too small. With the generous support of many donors, the construction of the new education center took place in 2002. It was named the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center in honor of volunteer and donor Margery Nicolson’s late husband.  Construction was completed in mid-January of 2003. The sanctuary has now grown to 2,900 acres and 7 full time staff members.

The Center is the second largest straw bale constructed building in the United States. The Center was constructed with sustainability in mind: 

• Closed loop geo-thermal heating and cooling system
• Foam insulation made from waste product left over from processing gasoline
• Straw bale and jean material insulation
• High efficiency, operable windows
• Solar tube skylights and fluorescent lights
• Local cedar used as posts
• 3x14 beams from old warehouse used in Great Hall
• Recycled carpet
• Sustainable harvested wood used where possible
• Low flow toilets
• Using low VOC paint
• Buying locally whenever possible
• Compost and recycling throughout area
• Using an already disturbed site for building
• Restoring land and xeriscaping
• Permeable parking lots
• Limited concrete used outside
• Limited outdoor lighting