Help Rebuild the Crocker Barn Education Center at Wachusett Meadow

Mass Audubon is working to transform Crocker Barn into a dynamic nature education center that embraces the building’s history as well as sustainable design and innovation to create a universally accessible indoor space for programming. 

We’ve already raised $4.7 million of our $5 million goal—you can help us cross the finish line. 

History of the Barn 

Built in 1924, Crocker Barn was created to house and manage livestock, mainly Milking Shorthorn cattle. This once state-of-the-art 7,600 square foot building was designed with truss construction for unobstructed space for hay storage and a tramway to remove manure from the livestock floor.  

When the farmstead was donated by the Crocker Family to Mass Audubon in 1956, the barn became the centerpiece of the sanctuary for community events and educational programming, providing a grand flexible indoor space that could accommodate more than 300 people. 

Despite investment in safety improvements and maintenance over the years, in 2015 Mass Audubon had to shutter Crocker Barn to the public as it no longer met current building codes and accessibility standards for education and assembly. The closure resulted in the loss of a critical public gathering space and an education resource for the sanctuary and the broader community.  

Vision for the Future 

Our vision for Crocker Barn is a vibrant and welcoming education center for Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary’s nature-based programming, conservation advocacy, and public engagement.  

The planned restoration will transform an unusable building into the Crocker Barn Education Center, creating a much-needed indoor program space and venue for community gatherings, Mass Audubon members, and guests.  

The renovation will bring the building up to code, including structural reinforcement, and new fire-suppression and energy-efficient systems. Accessibility upgrades, including an entry ramp and new restrooms, will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure that all visitors to Wachusett Meadow can access activities in the barn.  

The space will be designed to preserve Crocker Barn’s architectural integrity with flexibility to accommodate a range of activities for students, summer campers, youth groups, families, life-long learners, and professional meetings. And given the central location of Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, the Education Center will become an important venue to support land conservation partnerships, climate action, and other statewide initiatives. 

Help Bring the Barn Back to Life 

You can help restore the historic Crocker Barn at Wachusett Meadow. Your support will help realize a vital community space and resource for nature education and conservation. 

Donate today