Bombay Hook NWR Visitor Center Named After Senator Carper

Today, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Northeast Regional Director Wendi Weber announced the naming of the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center after U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and a long-time advocate for Delaware’s National Wildlife Refuges.

In October 2023, the Fish and Wildlife Service completed construction of the visitors center, replacing a deteriorated building with a modern space to help connect people to nature and engage local communities in the Service’s conservation mission. The new building was made possible with funds from the Great American Outdoors Act, legislation that Senator Carper supported.

The environmentally friendly, energy-efficient building was constructed with conservation in mind, complete with electric vehicle charging stations, solar panels and other features that meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver certification for sustainable design. The facility also is fitted with bird-friendly window treatments, installed as part of the Service’s commitment to reducing bird strikes at its facilities.

“Wildlife and public lands couldn’t ask for a better champion than Senator Tom Carper,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams. “Senator Carper is a longtime friend of nature and the National Wildlife Refuge System. Naming this visitor center after the Senator is a fitting tribute to his commitment to making sure Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge can welcome visitors for generations to come.”

“I am honored to be recognized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today at one of our two beautiful Delaware refuges,” said Senator Carper. “Bombay Hook is a jewel along our coastline, a habitat to many vital species, and a tourism driver for our state’s economy. It has been a personal joy to work alongside leaders like Director Williams and Wendi Weber to preserve public lands across the nation and in our state so that all Delawareans – and all Americans – can enjoy these wonders for generations to come.”

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge is a destination refuge, welcoming more than 110,000 visitors each year to enjoy hiking, biking, photography and some of the best birdwatching on the East Coast. In May 2023, Senator Carper announced his intention to retire at the end of his term in January 2025.