The Department of the Interior has opened a National Wildlife Visitor Center at the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge.
The center in Laurel was built with $15 million in federal dollars, plus $3 million in corporate donations and Maryland state funds, said Nell Baldacchino, a federal wildlife biologist. It is the largest science and environmental education facility held by the Department of the Interior.
It combines interactive exhibits with wildlife and habitat displays and trails. Among featured topics are world ecology, endangered species and rain forests.