American Prairie
National Discovery Center

The American Prairie National Discovery Center is the gateway to the prairie and a central gathering place for visitors from around the world.

About the National Discovery Center

Two of the core tenants of American Prairie are providing education about the prairie and access to the land. The National Discovery Center is a rendezvous point for visitors going to the prairie, a vibrant place for community building and partnership, and an important educational resource on the importance of grassland ecosystems to the health of our planet. The National Discovery Center is located a short drive from the prairie in Lewistown, Montana. It is open to the public and hosts an ever-growing lineup of local, regional, and national activities and programs that stir visitors to love and want to preserve the prairie and all of its inhabitants.

Located in the renovated Power Mercantile building, the National Discovery Center features interactive exhibits about the prairie ecosystem, community meeting spaces, and a film theater. The Exhibit Hall includes interactive exhibits and the Night Sky Theater that explore the nuances of the prairie ecosystem. The Talpins Children’s Center gives kids their own place to play and learn about the prairie. The Clyde Aspevig Event Center, which provides flexible spaces for events, presentations, and meetings with state-of-the-art technology. The Ken Burns American Heritage Theater offers a variety of films that introduce visitors to American Prairie, its mission, and the prairie ecosystem.

Location: 302 W Main St Lewistown, MT 59457

Hours: Thursday-Saturday from 10am-4pm


Upcoming Events

April

25

2024

Screening of the Film “Common Ground”: A Fergus Fresh Event

Apr 25 / 6:00pm–9:00pm

Fergus Fresh (a project of the Central Montana Resources Council) and American Prairie will present a screening of the documentary film, Common Ground, in the Clyde Aspevig Event Center of the National Discovery Center. The star-studded documentary on the regenerative farming movement is narrated by Jason Momoa and features Laura Dern, Woody Harrelson, Donald Glover, Senator Cory Booker, and farmers Leah Penniman and Gabe Brown. Learn more about the film at commongroundfilm.org

May

18

2024

Screening of the Film, “The Return of the Grizzly”

May 18 / 2:00pm

This 37-minute documentary examines the challenges facing the “explorer bear,” the pioneering young male grizzlies that originate from small, isolated core bear populations. The film is narrated by actor Jeff Bridges. Guest speakers at the National Discovery Center event will include wildlife filmmaker Maaike Middleton (who wrote and directed this film), Judith Gap, Montana, bison rancher Michael Hausman, and author, filmmaker, and wildlife activist Doug Peacock, who is dedicated to grizzly bear recovery. Peacock is also co-founder of several conservation organizations, including Save the Yellowstone Grizzly.

May

25

2024

Montana’s Eagle Experience at the National Discovery Center

May 25 / 10:00am–4:00pm

Paul and Anne Schnell of Montana’s Eagle Experience/Institute for Environmental Learning will bring an array of live raptors to the National Discovery Center for a day-long educational and hands on program. Guests of all ages will be allowed to take part in raptor demonstrations and learn about kestrels, eagles, hawks, and other raptors.

June

1

2024

American Prairie presents ECO-Critters with ZooMontana

Jun 1 / 10:00am–4:00pm

ZooMontana staff bring live animal ambassadors to the National Discovery Center and offer educational information about prairie animals and other interesting critters from around the world!

June

11

2024

Tanner Jorden in Concert

Jun 11 / 7:00pm

Tanner Jorden, a young classical pianist who performed at Carnegie Hall at age thirteen, will return to Lewistown for a free public concert! From Billings and currently studying Piano Performance at Brigham Young University, Jorden won the International American Protégé Concerto Competition in 2018, the Runnicles Music Competition in 2021, and earned second place at the prestigious 2021 William Knabe International Piano Competition, which cemented his status as one of the best rising pianists in the world.

June

22

2024

In Celebration of the Black-Footed Ferret: An All-Day Event with Staff of the National Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center

Jun 22

Kimberly Fraser, Black-Footed Ferret Program Coordinator, and Justin Chuven, Black-Footed Ferret Recovery Program Coordinator, will conduct an NDC Speakers Series presentation about the history and status of the endangered black-footed ferrets, current efforts to save them from extinction, and what it takes to care for “Elizabeth Ann,” the world’s first cloned endangered animal. A live black-footed ferret will also be on hand for the public to meet! There will also be fun and educational ferret-related activities for the kids!

July

6

2024

American Prairie presents ECO-Critters with ZooMontana

Jul 6 / 10:00am–4:00pm

ZooMontana staff bring live animal ambassadors to the National Discovery Center and offer educational information about prairie animals and other interesting critters from around the world!

July

13

2024

A Fresh Look at Montana’s Rock Art Utilizing New Technologies with Dr. Larry Loendorf

Jul 13 / 1:00pm

This Speaker Series event features renowned rock art authority and archaeologist Dr. Larry Loendorf, who offers Lewistown residents a “first look” at his exciting new rock art discoveries near Ryegate made possible using advanced technologies. Dr. Loendorf, part of the important Chauvet Cave (France) excavation team in 1994, earned his degrees from the University of Montana and University of Missouri. He is author of numerous scholarly articles and books and taught for two decades at the University of North Dakota. He is President of Sacred Sites Research, a nonprofit that records North American Indian pictograph and petroglyph sites and conducts associated research at traditional cultural properties such as vision quest areas, ceremonial caves, pigment sources, and ancient trails.

August

13

2024

Birds of the American Prairie with Andy Boyce

Aug 13 / 7:00pm

This Prairie LEKtures event will feature Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Research Ecologist Andy Boyce and other guest experts, who will present the latest information about the birds of Central Montana and the American Prairie.


Tour the National Discovery Center