Located on the Denison Homestead Campus in Mystic, CT, the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center is a combination wildlife sanctuary, natural history museum, and educational facility highlighting the habitats of southeastern Connecticut. Click HERE to visit online or on Facebook.

The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center history began in 1930 when Ann Borodell Denison Gates (Aunt Annie), Mary B. Denison, Agnes Gallup, Annie B. Greenman, Henrietta M. Stanton, and George S. B. Leonard incorporated The George and Ann Borodell Denison Society (renamed The Denison Society in 1946).

When Aunt Annie passed away in 1941 she bequeathed to the Denison Society the 1717 Pequotsepos Manor house (The Homestead), it’s historical contents, and approximately 120 acres of land which was originally granted by the Pequot Plantation to Captain George Denison (1618-1694) in 1652.

During her life Annie Gates had been a founding member of the Mystic Garden Club and in the Spring of 1943, Mystic Garden Club member Adele Erisman conceived of a wildlife sanctuary for Southeastern Connecticut to honor Annie Gates’ love of birds. Over the next few years, The Denison Society gave a series of talks to raise money for the preliminary expenses for the incorporation of a Sanctuary.

In 1945 The Denison Society formally voted to approve the idea to lease the portion of land South of Pequotsepos Road and the barn to a sanctuary organization for 25 years at the symbolic amount of $1 per year.

In 1946 Articles of Association were signed and the Pequot-sepos Wildlife Sanctuary, Inc was formed as a separate organization from The Denison Society with a shared board of trustees. Thomas Elroy Jr. was hired as the first Sanctuary Curator. During his 10-year tenure, trails were established, the parking lot was built, and the pond was constructed. Educational programs, a Trailside Museum, and a Trading Post were set up the in the barn.

In 1956, William Wylie succeeded as Sanctuary Curator. During his tenure programs were further expanded and outgrew the use of the unheated barn.  Mr. Wylie oversaw the building of a Curator’s Residence (now the DPNC Preschool) and personally built the home with volunteer support.  With additional support of funds solicited by both the Sanctuary and the Society, the new Trailside Museum (part of the current Main Building) was completed.

In 1962, Mr. Wylie resigned and Robert Kunz took over as Curator.  During his tenure, the Connecticut Conservation Association (CCA) was charted and operated jointly with the Pequot-Sepos Wildlife Sanctuary.  CCA became one of the first state wide conservation organizations and worked to preserve the environment, working hard to stop the spraying of DDT on Barn Island and Guildford Marshes.  These efforts, while noteworthy, refocused the organizations efforts away from stewardship and local educational programming for community residents at the Denison site. 

In 1970 the Sanctuary/CCA notified the Society of their intent to repurpose the building for office space for the administration of their state-wide conservation efforts, eliminating classroom space and most programming.  The Society felt the original intent of the Sanctuary had been changed and the current use jeopardized the care and preservation of the local Denison land so dramatically that in 1971 the lease with the Pequot-Sepos Wildlife Sanctuary was canceled and the organization was dissolved.

The Denison Society issued a statement of their commitment and intent to reform a Wildlife Sanctuary or Nature Center on the property.  In 1972, with backing and fundraising from the community and Denison Society members, Articles of Association were filed by three Denison trustees to form The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, Inc. Initial DPNC Board members were members of The Denison Society Board. 

Over time, non-Denison Society Board members were added and it was determined that three Denison Society members would represent by proxy all (9) of the Denison Society Board members on the newly expanded DPNC Board.  This is the structure that is retained to this day.  Stephen Rusch was hired as the first Director of the newly formed organization and brought in a new mascot; the Great Horned-Owl named Mrs. Wise.

However, from 1976-1990 DPNC was synonymous with director Robert DeWire.  An experienced naturalist and birder.  Under Bob’s leadership the organization delivered up to five educational programs per day and greatly expanded the programs DPNC offered.  Due to the growth in programs, in 1988 DPNC undertook an expansion with a new, 2800 sq ft. addition. The Denison Society donated funds towards this effort and in return, retained ownership over the buildings and the right to use the facilities for meetings etc.  In 1990 Bob DeWire retired to start his own environmental educational organizations called NatureScapes, and Stanton Simm was hired as Administrative Director. 

In 1992, The Denison Society spearheaded The Denison Fund campaign to purchase the 50-acre Morgan Farm which includes the meadows and trails on the North side of Pequotsepos Road (site of the current Denison Farmers Market).  At that time, Denison Society fundraising literature noted that the addition of the Morgan Farm would connect several properties and “extend a permanent greenbelt” through the Nature Center, across the Morgan Farm and onto Mashantucket (Avalonia Land Conservancy) land.

That same year, Margarett Jones (Philbrick) was hired as Executive Director.  Maggie oversaw the construction of the trails on the newly acquired Morgan Farm. During her tenure, she oversaw several large campaigns that helped the organization grow.  The 1998 Metamorphosis Campaign to renovate the exhibits in the Trailside Museum, build the treehouse classroom and boardwalks and bridges throughout the property. The 2013 the Campaign to Save the Coogan Farm added an additional 45 acres of property bordering Homestead land.  The addition of this property not only again significantly expanded the greenway but strengthened the historical connection between The Denison Society and The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center by preserving the site of the originally 1654 home site of Captain John Gallup, Captain George Denison’s neighbor at the Coogan Farm. 

In 2019 The Denison Society purchased the Oliver Denison house across the street from the Farmer Market, further establishing a contiguous property surrounding DPNC and the Denison Homestead.