Tyson Research Center

Tyson Research Center is owned and managed by Washington University, and is available for research, environmental studies, education, and other activities by researchers and approved outreach groups. It is part of the Organization of Biological Field Stations (OBFS) network. Tyson is located in western St. Louis County, 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Washington University's Hilltop Campus just off of Interstate 44 (View map). Oak-hickory forest covers about 85% of the hilly, karst-dominated landscape, and is home to many varieties of trees, ferns, mushrooms, wildflowers, and other plants which are listed on the flora page.

While bears, mountain lions, and elk can no longer be found at Tyson, there remain abundant populations of deer, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, bats, and other mammals. Bird-watching is a popular activity at Tyson, as is looking for butterflies and dragonflies. These animals, along with the reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates found at Tyson are listed on the fauna page. There are many photographs.

Tyson is located on the "Burlington Escarpment" and is underlain by Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. More information about the limestone caves, sinkholes, and parent material can be found on the geology page, and includes an excellent 2002 description and analysis ("Hydrogeology of Tyson") by Dr. Robert Criss. The soils of Tyson are predominantly red clays, and range from shallow to deep. Information on the springs, ponds, and other water sources is available on the hydrology page. Tyson's history includes a limestone quarry operation from the 1870s through the 1920s, and U. S. Army presence in the 1940s and 1950s. Tyson has a telescope and Observatory managed by the Washington University Physics Department.

The average precipitation at Tyson is approximately 43 inches (109 cm) per year. Air temperatures normally range from minimums near zero degrees Farenheit in the winter, to maximums well into the nineties during the summer. Basic weather data (air temp. and daily rainfall) has been collected at Tyson for over 20 years, but a new Campbell Scientific weather station was installed in Sept. 2000. Tyson joined the NADP (National Atmospheric and Deposition Program) acid rain monitoring network in 2001.

View photos from our "open house" or Tyson Trails Day, held on April 28, 2001.

Washington University's Tyson Research Center is focused on remaining a valuable resource for field research, urban ecological studies, conservation education, and environmental studies, well into the new millennium.