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It’s been two years in the making, after the old Visitor Center at Old Faithful was torn down in the fall of 2006 and spring of 2007 to make way for a new, energy-efficient facility. Many will remember the old visitor center, a concrete triangle that, while sporting some good views of Old Faithful, was probably too small when opened and never fit in the historic parkitecture of the area.
The new building certainly does.
Featuring a design that echoes Old Faithful Inn and Old Faithful Lodge, the new Visitor Education Center opens with a dedication ceremony starting at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, August 25. Superintendent Suzanne Lewis is hosting the event, which will feature the park’s Mounted Color Guard, music by the Wyoming National Guard’s 67th Army Band, and remarks by several special guests, with noted Yellowstone historian and author Paul Schullery giving the keynote address.
Over half the cost of the new facility — $15 million of the $27 million cost of design and construction — came from the nonprofit Yellowstone Park Foundation.
The new building features more than just view of Old Faithful and a film loop: it features several interactive exhibits, including a working model of a geyser, general exhibits on Yellowstone National Park and a special area for kids.
All images courtesy of the National Park Service.
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