Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education
41.6064, -87.2683 · Park boundary: National Park Service
The Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education is your gateway to the stunning Paul H. Douglas Trail through Miller Woods. This facility connects you to the natural environment through educational hands-on exhibits, ranger-guided hikes, lectures, animals, crafts, and a Nature Play Zone. Open hours are 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Central Time and is closed Monday and Tuesday.
- Mon–Tue
- Closed
- Wed–Sun
- 9:00AM - 4:00PM
The Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education open 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Central Time with the exception of Mondays, Tuesdays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, Veterans Day, and New Year's Day.
- Veterans Day · Nov 11, 2026 – Nov 11, 2026 · Closed
- Thanksgiving Day · Nov 26, 2026 – Nov 26, 2026 · Closed
- Christmas Day · Dec 25, 2026 – Dec 25, 2026 · Closed
- New Year's Day · Jan 1, 2027 – Jan 1, 2027 · Closed
Per the National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04
Per the National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04
The circular stamp is made with orange ink. On the top inside is written Indiana Dunes National Park. On the bottom inside is written Porter, IN. There so no date.
The Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education is located in the western portion of the national park at 100 North Lake Street, about one mile north of U.S. Highway 20 in the Miller neighborhood of Gary (100 North Lake Street, Gary, IN 46304). GPS Coordinates: 41.606286, -87.267483 (Decimal Degrees).
The Douglas Center is a wooden building built into several pod or round-shaped rooms. Crossing the pedestrian bridge is the main entrance. The trailhead for Miller Woods is down the set of stairs on the right. Entering the door is the main entry room. Rest rooms are on the left. Through the next set of doors is the welcome desk and a mural of Miller Woods. Down the hall on the right is a sloping hallway painted bright blue with a rainbow above. Two-(2) pods are located on either side of the bottom of the ramp. The left is the theater/auditorium room. The right is the craft room. Tables line the craft room with activity guides and supplies for children to make their own crafts. Continuing down the hall is the final pod on the right, the animal room. Bass, amphibians, snakes, and reptiles are on either side of the room in glass enclosures. The set of doors leads to the trail of Miller Woods. This trail is fully accessible and provides a short loop around the pond at the base of the dune the Paul H. Douglas center is built upon.
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