Designed to capture the essence of the American pioneering story, the new 10,600-SF Homestead Heritage Center “grows from the land” and is a distinguishable form on the landscape.  Simple yet evocative, the upturned roof creates a recognizable destination for visitors entering the Park and suggests imagery associated with the American frontier: a ship on the prairie; a plowshare; the billowing canvas of a covered wagon; a furrow in the earth. 

Offering an experience of surprise and discovery, the center embraces the resource it interprets.  Intersecting planes of glass admit an abundance of natural light, while offering unobstructed views to the tallgrass prairie that surrounds the center.  The expansive view of the restored prairie dominates the view from the visitor center – the same view that greeted the homesteaders 140 years ago – emphasizing the untouched vastness that was the West.  It is from this vantage point that visitors recognize the challenges that faced the homesteaders and the influence they had on farming and the development of the American Midwest.

Due to its location in “Tornado Alley,” a portion of the building was constructed below grade to provide shelter against the dangerous prairie storms.  The new facility includes interpretive exhibits, curatorial facilities, collections storage, retail facilities, administrative areas, and visitor comfort facilities.