Don Henley Opens Walden Pond Visitor Center

Don Henley

DON HENLEY joined state officials in CONCORD, MA, yesterday (SEPTEMBER 27th) for the opening of a new VISITOR CENTER at historic WALDEN POND, made famous by writer/philosopher HENRY DAVID THOREAU. The building is a model of environmental sustainability and will offer state-of-the-art exhibits for school groups and the 500,000 visitors who visit WALDEN POND each year.

The pond and the surrounding woods inspired the writings of THOREAU, the father of the AMERICAN conservation movement and a leader in the evolution of social reform. HENLEY has taken an active role in preserving the landmark for years.

As founder and Chairman of the WALDEN WOODS PROJECT, HENLEY commented: “The WALDEN WOODS PROJECT's collaboration with MA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION will support the stewardship of WALDEN POND, a NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK. Further, it will keep THOREAU’s legacy alive for future generations. Visiting school groups will interact with an interpretive exhibit encouraging them to identify their own special places; their own ‘WALDENs.’ Introductions to THOREAU’s philosophy will invite youth to consider what constitutes good citizenship and leading a purposeful life. For hundreds of thousands of visitors (a third of whom are international) the VISITOR CENTER will offer avenues to reflect on some of the most compelling issues of our time.” 

HENLEY founded the nonprofit organization in 1990 to protect the iconic woodland of THOREAU that surrounds the WALDEN POND STATE RESERVATION. To date, the organization has preserved large tracts of land that had been threatened with development, has created environmental education programs for students and teachers, and operates the most extensive THOREAU library in the world.

During today’s ceremony, a public/private partnership was announced between the WALDEN WOODS PROJECT and the COMMONWEALTH of MASSACHUSETTS. 

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