Aldo Leopold Legacy Center (Leopold Center)

The Aldo Leopold Legacy Center (Leopold Center) lies 10 miles northeast of Baraboo, close to the Wisconsin River and a short distance from the historic “Shack” and farm of renowned conservationist, Aldo Leopold. It was at the Shack on countless weekends and summer days away from the UW-Madison campus where Leopold taught that he gained inspiration for much of the content of his classic book of essays, “A Sand County Almanac.”  The Center is a visitor/education center owned and managed by the Aldo Leopold Foundation, a private non-profit organization established in 1982 by the family of Aldo Leopold.  At the Center, a visitor can see exhibits, historic photos and videos about Leopold and his work.  There are hiking trails near the Center that traverse diverse habitats (floodplain forest, upland woods, wetlands.)  Visitors may also take a guided or self-guided tour of the Leopold Shack during spring, summer and fall.  Check the Foundation’s website for programs, tour information and visitation hours.

A Very Green Building

The Leopold Center was constructed in 2007 with the highest standards of “green design and construction,” using locally harvested and milled timber resources, renewable energy (solar and geothermal) and innovative design to significantly reduce energy and water needs to run the facility.  The facility received Platinum LEED Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, the highest rating of any building in the country. The Center meets all of its energy needs on site, and on occasion provides power back to the grid thanks to a series of solar panels mounted on the roof.  The Leopold Center was built with four distinct seasons in mind, utilizing different sources of energy as the season allows.  Not only is the Center an extraordinary example of a green building, but it is a handsome structure tucked into a beautiful setting only a mile from the historic “Shack” of Aldo Leopold.