Nahant Marsh

One of the last remaining urban wetlands of its size in the Midwest

The Nahant Marsh Educational Center Nahant Marsh is one of the last remaining urban wetlands of its size on the Upper Mississippi River.

From the 1960s to 1996, this land was used for skeet and trap shooting leaving Nahant Marsh contaminated with lead shot. In 1996, Nahant Marsh was listed as an Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site.

In 1999, the EPA removed over 143 tons of lead-contaminated soil from 13 acres at a cost of $2 million.

The Nahant Marsh Educational Center, managed by the Putnam Museum, offers hands-on activities to further the understanding of water quality, wetlands, and their importance to both wildlife and humans.

A full-time naturalist provides educational programming on wetland ecosystems, water quality, and biodiversity at the Marsh.