Flint Hills Discovery Center
The Tallgrass Prairie is an important ecosystem utilized by prairie chickens and cattle and has been a resource for people from the Kaw and Osage tribes to today’s ranchers, naturalists, and artists. These varied stories are the foundation of the Flint Hills Discovery Center.
BPI in collaboration with Hilferty and Associates created engaging multimedia exhibits to present a unified regional identity from diverse points of view. And to welcome visitors into the space, BPI produced an immersive theatrical presentation projected on the lobby’s 65-foot domed ceiling.
Visitors page through treaties between the American government and the Flint Hills’ native tribes. At other stations, they learn about early settlers, listen to cowboy poems and songs, and discover the ancient skills of flintknapping and firing ceramic pottery. They can also test their fast-talking skills in a cattle auction, explore the spring rituals of the prairie chicken, and learn about burning and grazing cycles for management of the Tallgrass Prairie.
At the award-winning Gateway Station kiosk, visitors can plan their own trip to the Flint Hills, view up-to-date information about local events and sites, and even create customized itineraries.
Over 80 interviews are incorporated into Voices of the Flint Hills. In concert with the Center’s other exhibits, Voices triggers discussion and encourages community members and visitors to treasure the region’s rich heritage.
