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The Macnamara Nature Trail / Nopiming Game Sancturary

Photo Gallery

Welcome to a virtual tour into the favourite haunts of Charles Macnamara (1870 - 1944), one of the greatest naturalists and photographers of his time. While working for the McLachlin Lumber Company in Arnprior, he spent virtually all of his free time roaming the forests, fields and swamps in the vicinity of this trail. The plants and animals encountered on his outings were diligently recorded in diaries lavishly illustrated with photographs of the subjects.

Charles Macnamara's interest in nature was diverse. While beavers and orchids particularly intrigued him, all living things captured his attention. He discovered no fewer than six species of minute jumping insects and the scientific name of one of them, Sminthurides macnamarai gives due recognition to its finder

Macnamara's knowledge of nature was equalled only by his skill with the camera. Many of his photographs are regarded as the finest documentation of the early lumbering industry in Canada. Visit the Arnprior & District Archives' virtual museum tour Charles Macnamara- A Retrospective.

Many of the special natural features highlighted on this trail were discovered by Charles Macnamara nearly a century ago. It is only fitting that this trail and the club that built it bear the name of one of the greatest naturalists to walk through any wild region in past of present times.

Text is an excerpt from the interpretative booklet published by the Macnamara Field Naturalists Club. It is available from the trail entrance kiosk (McNab Street).

Map of Arnprior