Connecting Community with Nature through the words and wisdom of Rachel Carson
We are creating a world-class community museum inspired by Rachel Carson, sparking lifelong wonder in our natural world, nurturing connection, celebrating courage, and catalyzing stewardship of the earth.
The new Springsong Museum will change the way we see the living world and our place within it.
Thanks to a long-term lease with Montgomery Parks, a former water filtration plant at Burnt Mills East Special Park will be transformed into Springsong Museum. The 2.7-acre site, nestled between the two neighborhoods where Carson wrote her most famous books, will feature a welcoming modern addition that complements the landscape, native gardens, accessible paths, and a repurposed outbuilding for outdoor education.
The museum’s exhibits will take visitors on a journey through Rachel Carson’s books and major writings, highlighting their messages and lasting impact. They will also connect guests to the site’s land and waters, sharing the area’s rich and layered history—from Native peoples to generations of millers and beyond. With free admission and an interpretive framework that bridges science, nature, literature, and art, Springsong Museum is expected to serve thousands of visitors annually.
Named for the collective voice of birds and other creatures brimming with life every spring, Springsong Museum will carry forward Carson’s vision—picking up where she left off—placing clear-eyed wonder at the heart of our relationship with the living earth.
Where we are
Phase 2: Approvals and Permitting
Increasing public programming (learn more here)
Construction permitting and approvals underway
Further develop project plans for site design, exhibits, and gardens
Ongoing renovation planning and pre-construction coordination
Prepare for groundbreaking on building addition
Where we have been
Phase 1: Visioning & Planning
Community and subject-matter outreach and engagement began
Burnt Mills East property identified; proposal to Montgomery County Parks approved
Engagement with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service initiated, Carson’s former employer
Assembled a team of architects, engineers, designers, fundraisers, and museum experts
Launched Spring: Story, a collection of testimonials about Carson’s impact
$1.45 million Maryland State Bond Bill approved
Where we are going
Phase 3: Construction and Opening
Complete renovations and install indoor/outdoor exhibits
Launch additional community and education programs
Onboard additional staff and volunteers
Celebrate the grand opening of Springsong Museum
