The Loxahatchee River Center is located in Burt Reynolds Park. According to their website "The mission of the River Center is to foster a sense of environmental stewardship for the Loxahatchee River's diverse watershed with quality education programs, exhibits and meaningful events."
This small eco museum is dedicated to educating the public about the Loxahatchee River which is home to many endangered and threatened animals like woodstorks and manatees. Along the banks of the river it is common to see alligators, turtles, river otters, deer, raccoon, turkey, bald eagles, owls, heron, ibis, egrets, gopher tortoise, osprey, storks, scrub jay and many other species. Some of the more common types of fish in the river include bass, panfish, mullet, snook, tarpon, redfish and jacks. The Loxahatchee River flows through a 260 square mile ecosystem that includes the communities of Jupiter, Tequesta, Juno Beach, Jupiter Island, Jupiter Inlet Colony, Jupiter Farms, Hobe Sound and Palm Beach Gardens. After gently flowing through freshwater creeks and down into a brackish estuary, the river enters the Jupiter Inlet before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. In 1985 the Loxahatchee River was federally designated a wild and scenic river, one of only two such designated rivers in Florida. if you are interested in exploring the river more closely, kayaks and canoes can be rented at Riverbend Park.
This small free museum is set up in a circle. On the outside of the building is a timeline of Jupiter history starting with 6000-5000 BC when the Loxahatchee River watershed was formed. Inside you will see interpretative signs about Jupiter shark explorations, where the drinking water comes from and goes, and how to balance water use. While the museum is geared toward children I enjoyed all of the aquariums containing the fish and turtles you would find in the river along with some saltwater tanks. They also have a touch tank that you can explore with a staff member. In addition to the museum the Loxahatchee River Center offers various classes and programs throughout the year. A full list of events can be found on their website. If you have a few minutes to spare in Jupiter it is well worth stopping here to learn about the river that is so important to the ecosystem health of this area.