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Latodami Nature Center

Located in North Park, Latodami Nature Center covers approximately 250 acres, including fields, forests, ponds, wetlands, and stream habitats with a series of nature trails. Latodami Nature Center provides guided programs designed to get people out into the natural world and investigate the wide diversity of habitats and wildlife found in our Allegheny County parks and western Pennsylvania region. Year-round programming is available to the public, as well as schools, scouts, and private groups.

Special features of Latodami Nature Center include apple orchards, meadow and grassland ecosystems, wetland sites, vernal ponds, farm pond, mature woodlands, successional stage field/forest habitats, multiple butterfly and hummingbird gardens, deer habitats, permanent streams and nature trails, many of which interconnect and offer educational signage. Trails are open from dawn to dusk every day.

The Latodami Nature Center barn facility is an authentic 1914 dairy barn, featuring a spacious open-air auditorium for large groups, and displays of local plant and animal life. There is also a small, heated classroom for use in cold weather. The barn is open only during scheduled programs.

Visitor Information

Latodami Nature Center grounds are open dawn to dusk
The barn is only opened during scheduled programming
Parking is limited - organized groups are asked to carpool
There is no running water or public telephone
There is an accessible portable toilet in the parking lot

Latodami History

The property was owned by J. D. Brown, a Pittsburgh lawyer with dreams of owning a farm. Though J. D. Brown developed the property in the early 1900’s, he was a “gentleman farmer” and hired others to run the farm. The Brown family had their own sawmill and most of the wood used for the buildings on the property was harvested and milled from surrounding trees. The barn, built in 1914, was used primarily for milking cattle and storage of feed and equipment.

The Horning family, direct descendants of J. D. Brown, eventually named the Latodami farm after their four children:

Orlando (LA)
Antoinette (TO)
Davia (DA)
Michelle (MI)

The 250-acre property was acquired by Allegheny County in 1969 for the specific use of becoming a nature center. Since the county acquisition, most of the original outbuildings deteriorated and were removed by the county. Buildings removed included: a chicken house, pigsty, turkey pens, milk house, and horse stable.

Still present are the main house (subdivided into three apartments), garages and apartment, the foreman’s house (now the Naturalist office), the main barn, and smaller, storage barn. The Latodami barn has been converted into a large open-air room where groups can be accommodated, and local plant and animal displays are found.

Volunteer at Latodami

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

Latodami Nature Center is always looking for individuals and groups interested in giving back to the outdoors and local environments.

Outreach volunteer projects can be developed for to school, scout, company, and private groups. Opportunities are available year-round to learn, exercise, relax and contribute.

To schedule a volunteer opportunity, call 724-935-2170 or email the Naturalists at Latodami@AlleghenyCounty.us.

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