Situated on the edge of the Charles River, Magazine Beach Park Nature Center is a central point for people to stop in and learn about nature in the city and Cambridge’s history. In 2021, Mass Audubon partnered with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to transform the historic Powder Magazine building into a seasonal nature center that offers nature-based exploration, kayaking, birding, arts and crafts, and more.  

History of the Powder Magazine

At first glance, it’s hard to see the history nestled in between the solid granite rocks of the Powder Magazine on the Charles River. Only upon closer inspection can you see where a wall once stood in 1818, dividing Cambridge’s public and private gun powder stores. The location of the building was just the right distance from the town to protect residents from any explosions but close enough to access for militia and war emergencies.  

Little evidence is left of its time as a public bath house for the Charles River from 1899 to 1946 or as a garage and storage unit for decades after. Now, with a renewed purpose as the Magazine Beach Park Nature Center, the Powder Magazine is once again filled with life from the Cambridge community. 

Connecting with the Community 

Mass Audubon’s own Paul Kelley, Cambridge community education coordinator, and Evan Roberts, Magazine Beach site manager, help organize a range of nature-based programs and events at the Magazine Beach Park Nature Center from April through November.  

“I love my job because it is so locally based,” says Kelley. “It allows me to connect with the Cambridge community and collaborate with partners to develop creative programming.” 

In alignment with Mass Audubon’s Action Agenda goal to increase equitable access to nature, every program and event is created specifically for—and with—residents and visitors to connect people with the environment, even in the heart of an urban area.  

One program, Paddle for Empowerment, allows over 500 youth from underinvested communities to experience the beauty of the city and the Charles River from the cockpit of a kayak. And, during the Nature in City Festival in July, over 300 people celebrated nature with environmental-themed activities, opportunities for climate action, food trucks, a live band, and a participatory art installation.  

The Future of Magazine Beach 

As project and event planning continues to ramp up, Kelley and Roberts collaborate with groups like DCR, Magazine Beach Partners, Charles River Conservancy, and others to plan for future events and installations at the site. Mass Audubon is also working to lend expertise to ecological management projects like invasive species removal and native plantings, along with volunteer opportunities for people who want to be part of stewarding this important resource in the city. Roberts has found being a part of the development process for the site to be extremely rewarding, as he knows what it’s like to seek out nature in a city. 

“After moving to Boston from a rural town, I have felt times where I wanted to escape to nature but have been unable to. The Magazine Beach Park Nature Center is perfect for people looking to connect with the environment without going too far,” says Roberts. 

Visit Today

Magazine Beach has something for everyone. Drop in to look at artist Michelle Lougee’s giant tern made of single-use plastics or enjoy the view of waterfowl and songbirds from the patio or on the riverside trail. Take up paddling at the Summer Nights Paddling programs on Fridays or join the next Nature in the City Festival. Start planning your visit today > 

During this time of year, a chorus of unusual sounds echo throughout forests, wetlands, and grasslands. Different animals break the silence of the warm summer air, some recognizable like the hum of a cricket or the call of a mourning dove, but others may be harder to identify. Learn three different noises you may hear during the summer. 

American Toad

Unlike the deep vibrato of the American Bullfrog, American Toads have more of a smooth trilling call, like a telephone. While they call, their vocal sac swells into a bubble under their chin, and the musical sound can last anywhere from 4-20 seconds.  

American Toads are a member of the true toad family Bufonidae. They can be found on forest floors across the state, except on Nantucket. Their brown bodies are covered with warts and mixed with black coloration and a white belly. 

Coyote

You may hear a cluster of coyotes howling during the night, but that doesn’t mean the area is filled with these canines. In fact, most howls come from a few adults trying to locate each other, warning outsiders to stay off their territory, or pups practicing how to howl with their parents. Contrary to popular belief, they do not call out to announce a kill, since that would attract other scavengers to pick away at their meal. 

Coyotes are adaptive creatures that live in a variety of habitats, including cities. If you hear their late-night howls, remember that as scary and ominous as they sound, coyotes rarely attack humans and prefer to keep their distance. 

Common Grackle

Sitting on a suburban or rural lawn, a Common Grackle utters a short and sharp chak note. From a distance, their bodies appear to be all black, but up close you can see their blue head, iridescent body, and golden eyes. They are the largest of the blackbird family in Massachusetts, reaching a foot in length from bill to tail. 

Grackles are social birds and outside of breeding season, can be seen in large flocks. They keep up their chattering no matter where they are, from resting on a telephone line to pecking in agricultural fields.   

Stop and Listen

Don’t forget to take a moment and listen to all of nature’s songs this summer. To learn more about different creatures living in Massachusetts, sign up for a program at one of Mass Audubon’s wildlife sanctuaries.