Free and fun This was our first stop for exploring Erie. Highly recommend since they have a little visitor center area with maps and things to do in the area. Plus a fun nature center. The center highlights ship wrecks in Lake Erie, history, animal ecosystem, art and nature play. They also have a kids play area. Don't forget to climb the tower to oversee several stories above. The volunteers here were great. We learned about rocks in the area. Plus she gave us the hint about the volunteer boat tours. read more

See all

This place is really great! It's a free nature museum offering video, hands-on play for kids, and some interesting history of the whole Lake Erie and local PA areas. Thanks to Tom Ridge for your enthusiasm and dedication to environmental education! Thanks to Erie for making this vision come alive! The location is perfect for exploring more of the local scenery, too! If nature is only part of your interest - it's really close to Waldemere amusement park. Unlike Six Flags or the sorts, you can purchase rides one by one and avoid the expensive all-day pass style park system. If camping, fishing, volleyball, or swimming float your boat - check out the shore along Lake Erie on Presque Isle (just keep driving a bit past TREC) and spend the day on the beach! read more

One of the coolest FREE things to do in Erie. It's like a museum, a movie theater, and an environmental center, all rolled into one. Also, I love the observation tower, where you can go up to the top and see everything for miles around. Highly recommended on your way into Presque Isle State Park (it's the first right before you actually arrive on the Peninsula). Also, in Summertime, look for the "Ravine Flyer" roller coaster, which travels on a bridge over the highway from Waldameer Park, and does a turn right below the Tom Ridge center . . . especially cool from the top of the observation tower. P.S. When you visit Presque Isle State Park in the off-season, most of the beach bathrooms are closed for the winter, so I like to stop here before (and sometimes after) my visit to the peninsula just to use the bathrooms . . . best bathrooms for the buck (free) anywhere, because they are eco-friendly, and they have the most interesting sinks for washing your hands, . . . never have I seen sinks like these anywhere . . . check them out! read more

See all

The Tom Ridge Environmental Center focuses on the history of the local area - starting back with the glacial era, through early settlement, to current state - focusing on the environmental aspects. There's a lot of eco-diversity in Erie making this a good spot for such a place. There are a lot of "read the signs", yet also some interactive exhibits. It is FREE - except for the movies. There's a tower to ascend with a view of the surrounding area; glad we did it - but unlike other reviewers - I didn't think the view was anything special... the trees blocked most of the Presque Isle peninsula - and 1/3 of the view was of the water park across the street. Yet all-in-all - a good stop over, and a great way to learn some good history and environmental knowledge. We spent an hour. Oh yes, each movie is shown only once per day, so if there's one you want to see - check the website and plan accordingly. read more

This is a new building located at the entrance to Presque Isle State Park. Inside is an educational center dedicated to teaching visitors about Presque Isle. I learned a few things about Lake Erie that I didn't know before. For example, where was I when flying saucers attacked! And, I have never heard of the Creature from Lake Erie! ;) http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelonebeader/3079172992/in/set-72157601472080158/ Aside from that, there are research facilities, interactive exhibits, a GIANT screen movie theatre, cafe, and gift shop. If you are interested in wildlife, fishing, and the world around you, this is a great place to check out. Entrance is free, so bring the kids! :D read more

Tom Ridge Environmental Center - Inside the Tom Ridge Environmental Center. Erie, PA - Public Services & Government Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

Its FREE people. This place is EXCELLENT for children where they can run and explore all over the place. You learn all about Erie, Great Lakes and the life that lives around it and in it. I can say it is one of the very bright jewels of the Erie area and all parents should bring their children down. There is a place where they can hang their coats and just let them explore but keep them away from the gift shop as the things that can be broken are in this place. What I like about this place the very most is you learn all about everything in the Great Lakes including the fish and what type (I like eating fish). There is a movie theater without the popcorn a lot of art deco from life of Erie. I'm going to return again and take it all in and I'll post more pictures. Thanks for the read. read more

Tom Ridge Environmental Center - Public Services & Government Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

Fun, educational center on Presque history and today. Great for kids and adults. 365° Tower overlook read more

Tom Ridge Environmental Center - Public Services & Government Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

A very educational place. Free museum for people that are interested in history and the origins of the area. Views of the area ate spectacular. A very picturesque view of the lake and surrounding amusement/water parks. read more

Tom Ridge Environmental Center - museum - Public Services & Government Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

See all

This place is amazing! I wish I had discovered it earlier (my g/f and I discovered it on our way out of Presque island state park) because we wanted to spend more time here once we discovered how awesome it was. This place is an all-out nature museum or natural history museum. It has multiple floors and the exhibits are extensive, beautiful, informative, and deep. You can learn a ton both about the ecology and history of the Presque Island and Erie shore region, and about nature and ecology in general, through coming here. There's also a cafe here which I really recommend checking out, because the food is surprisingly good quality, and the prices are very good. I also thought it had a pleasant dining area. I don't think I would be exaggerating if I said that this center is probably the most exciting thing in the whole Erie area. Next time I come through this area I'm making it a top priority to come back to this place with more time to explore it. I absolutely recommend checking it out if you ever visit the region. And it's free, totally free! I can't get over that...such a great resource available to everyone completely free of charge! read more

A fine diversion and a good way to orient yourself with Presque Isle if you're unfamiliar. The films are wonderful (we've seen some at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh; that's the quality we're talking). The only complaint is that it's not enough. It's easy to move around and docents are eager to engage visitors. The lookout tower gives a lovely but limited view of PISP in summer (in winter, more may be visible). Kids may get bored easily with only a few interactive exhibits but the exhibits are all in keeping with the center's purpose. Very interesting uses of eco-tech, many of which I'd love to see implemented at the park itself. Worth an hour of your time (more if you take in a film) and a quiet respite from all the activity in the area. read more

Cool place to go!! It's completely free to come in and learn all about our lake and the animals that live there. My kids love coming to play here and the view from the top of the tower is amazing! read more

This place is great for kids and adults. I brought my son last week on a trip to Erie and he's a science lover and he was impressed. We watched the IMAX film, it was really interesting as well. The view from the top of the tower is nice. It's nice that they are able to offer this to the public for no fee. read more

I am so glad that Erie has a treasure like this! With so much eco-diversity in the area, this place was much needed and I love going here. I have been 2x now and this time (5 years later) was drastically different. They have so much to look at and interact with now it was amazing! The first time I went, we went for the Mysteries on the Great Lakes movie, it was fantastic, I highly recommend you watch it when you go ($7.50). This time around we watched a free movie about the seasons on presque isle and then wandered through the exhibits. We saw examples of the animals, birds, beaches and dunes. Also saw history in the making with how presque isle was formed over the years. There was also a great spot about memories on presque isle with old photos and a video on childhood experiences! Upstairs was an art exhibit from a local school and some great places to stand and view outside. After walking around the exhibits and gift shop we took the elevator to the top of the tower. Wow! What a View! You could see kids on Waldemeers roller coaster screaming by on top of the trees, you could see the lake and then the giant water park. It was nice and breezy up there, I could have stayed all day! read more

Tom Ridge Environmental Center - View of the exhibits on the second floor - Public Services & Government Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

What a great resource to have in a smaller town! I can imagine a ton of local kids come here for field trips regularly. Keeping in mind that Presque Isle is in the center's backyard, there is a plethora of information on the surrounding ecosystem, which is very informative with interactive features for the kiddos. The absolute best part of the center is the price of admission: free! As my bf noted, cost of admission here if it were in Florida (where he is from) would be at least $15 or $20 per child and adult prices would be even higher than that. The tower (and the view) were probably what I enjoyed the most, however, we did have an issue with the elevator when we were coming down from the top so we had to use the stairs, which for us was no problem, however, I could see how if someone was in a wheelchair and the elevator only worked going up and not down, as in our experience, that would present quite a problem. They had several conference rooms (one looked as it was set up for a private party involving a buffet) as well as a cafe, which was closed since we visited on easter Sunday. If anyone is visiting Presque isle, I'd highly recommend taking a detour before leaving to check this place out! read more

A wonderful treasure to explore! Educational exhibits, displays and history about Lake Erie and it's unique natural resources. Must visit the gift shop, creative wares and local artists. Beautiful! read more

The tom ridge environmental center is the best! I learned so much and best of all it was free!! All the staff were knowledgable and very pleasant. I will definitely return when I visit Erie. Loved the gift shop too! It was the only place I could find souvenirs for my collection and gifts for my family in California. read more