The center — completed in November 2004 and opened in 2005 — is named for Henry N. Barkhausen who encouraged government agencies, private organizations and local residents to protect natural character of the Cache River.
Barkhausen was the former director of the Illinois Department of Conservation (now Illinois Department of Natural Resources) when the state was establishing its first natural area program, a former trustee of The Nature Conservancy in Illinois and a 19-year member of the Citizens Committee to Save the Cache River, a grassroots effort to promote conservation of the Cache River.
By November of that same year, the center expanded its hours to the present-day schedule – Wednesday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The center provides a variety of programs, special events and school field trips for families, students, organized groups and individuals.
Student programs feature hands-on activities and presentations that focus on wildlife, the values of wetlands and related resource issues.