ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MUSEUMS AND NATURE CENTERS

Rex Burress

In case anyone has forgotten, while in the pursuit of domestic business, or traumatized by anxieties caused by flood and fire around Oroville, what the importance of museums and nature centers is all about. Maybe we need some fresh reminders.

The Feather River Nature Center [FRNC] that rose from the ruins of the Old Bathhouse down by the riverside, has been a community effort to build a place with a mission of bringing nature and people together. Nature centers have been constructed all over America with intent of enhancing and preserving places for nature activities so that people, and kids especially, can grow to love the ever-interesting and beautiful world around us. In the mode of John Muir: “ I care to live to entice others to look at nature's loveliness with understanding,” and understanding has also been the thrust of Oroville's four other museums, the Pioneer Museum, the Chinese Museum, the Lott House, and the Antique Tool Museum. Cultural history and natural history are akin to the understanding of life. With understanding comes respect for our environments.

Our Oroville FRNC idea was born in the fall of 1996 at a community cleanup around the Bathhouse site. The conceptual vision slowly took form in the following year under the guidance of Peter Maki and aided by a host of vital volunteers eager to help advance a public nature center and wild plant garden.

The original 'Bathhouse' recreational building was built by the WPA in 1935, and sat on five acres the City of Oroville owned--an 'auto-park'/first park, as described in conjunction with the 1856 ferry and swimming beach. “Old Ferry Road.” Much of the complex was lost in the flood of 1937, and only the sturdy walls of the ruined Bathhouse were left standing.

After 1996, a roof, windows, and doors were installed in following months—all by volunteers. The FRNC was crafted, and dedicated in 1998. Improvements have been ongoing ever since, continued by a long list of inspired individuals and “Friends of the Nature Center”docents, all donating their services, and aided by renewed interest and help from the City of Oroville and its museum program. The FRNC is concerned with providing nature interpretive assistance to the public, and a nature museum has been the central focus in helping to inform people about the wonders of nature. Nature is the very foundation of life on Earth.

Among a host of important projects supporting the nature center has been the stone wall that the volunteer staff built in front of the center that protected the grounds during the 2017 flood. Again, the stone building survived, but the road edges were undermined, closing down the center into the summer.

What is the importance of nature interpretation? Why have a nature center and a nature museum? Take a walk on the wildside, along the river, or in any park or wildland, and not only will you be refreshed by the healthy aspects of woods and water, but you will be connected to a wild subject of intense interest.

I received my grounding in nature centers at Oakland's Nature Center, and witnessed the advancement of our kid volunteers--the formation of future wildlife advocates. In particular was Jim Covel, who went on to be a ranger and finally a director at Monterey Aquarium. Jim Carlton, had a career in marine biology, Frank Sato was a moth expert, became a teacher of entomology. Most gratifying was Elizabeth Sunday. As a 12-year-old, she followed me around when I was photographing animals, and 25 years later, returned to tell me about her career in photography! “You started it,” she said! She had been to Africa photographing natives in villages, using a special technique with mirrors that she developed. Thus go the stories of the influence that Centers and Museums make in spreading inspiration to aspiring students of all ages.

Having a place to concentrate the teaching efforts of docents and naturalist guides, helps to enhance the nature/historical educational effort as well as providing a place to exhibit nature curios and items of historical and artistic fascination. Such public attractions gives a community a sense of pride and joy. Man does not live by bread alone...

A museum, as does a park, provides a place of mental relief in the turmoil of political times, and creates a certain stability of mind in knowing artifacts from the past are being protected, researched, and exhibited for the enlightenment of the public and the children of the future. Just knowing that museums and nature centers and parks are there enriches the aesthetical circle of thoughts involved in our heritage.