Founded in 1953, Mianus River Gorge, Inc. is an independent, not-for-profit organization, whose mission is to preserve, protect and promote appreciation of the natural heritage of the Mianus River watershed through land acquisition and conservation, scientific research and public education throughout the region. A 501(c)(3) non-profit conservation and education organization, Mianus River Gorge:
- Protects over 1,100 acres in Bedford, North Castle and Pound Ridge, NY and Stamford CT, including one of the last stands of old-growth forest in the northeast US;
- Manages the 900+-acre Mianus River Gorge Preserve, which is open seasonally with more than 5 miles of hiking trails and outdoor exhibits, plus an additional 26 acres in the Twin Lakes Preserve and Taylor Preserve;
- Conducts applied research and offer innovative research-based education programs for high school, undergraduate and graduate students; and
- Works on initiatives to protect the Mianus River Watershed from its headwaters to the Long Island Sound.
The Mianus River Gorge was the first land project of the Nature Conservancy as well as the first National Natural History Landmark in the United States.