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4220 Wapello Ave.

Davenport, IA 52802

Our Mission

The mission of Nahant Marsh Education Center is to protect, enhance, and restore the Marsh through education, research, and conservation.

Our Vision

Our vision is to foster wonder, appreciation, and stewardship of the natural world.

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Who We Are

Nahant Marsh is a 382-acre preserve nestled in southwest Davenport. It is part of a 513-acre wetland complex that is bordered by the Mississippi River, Interstate 280, and Highway 22.

Education Center Hours

The Nahant Marsh Education Center is open:

Monday through Friday

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Saturdays

9 a.m. to noon
(extended to 3 p.m. from April through October).

Preserve Hours

Trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset. If the main gate is locked, trails are accessible from the front parking lot. Look for the opening in the fence near the kiosk.

Click here for a trail map .

There is no fee to visit the Marsh.

The future starts with you

wHERE NATURE & nURTURE THRIVE

We are in control of how we live on this planet. Consider becoming part of the movement. Protect our rivers year round!

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Upcoming Events

Education

Nahant Marsh Education Center offers a wide variety of environmental education programming for people of all ages. Educational programs are conducted both on and off-site and provide programming that focuses on midwest ecosystems, conservation, and stewardship.

Research

Research projects are conducted year round and guide our management practices. Ongoing projects include water quality testing, turtle population monitoring, and avian population studies.

Conservation

Wetlands are a vital part of our ecosystems. They filter pollutants, reduce sedimentation, reduce flow, and provide habitat. Nahant Marsh is a protected natural area and our management practices strive to maintain the health and diversity of the preserve.

NAHANT MAKES A COMEBACK

At one time eastern Iowa's Nahant marsh was home to the Quad Cities Trap and Skeet Gun Club, leaving heavy doses of lead in the mud of the marsh. The lead in the pellets can sicken or kill many native birds. This lead contamination prompted the Environmental Protection Agency to list Nahant Marsh as a Superfund site in need of cleanup. Nahant now serves as an environmental rallying point for the eastern Iowa community.