August 25: Mississippi River Visitor Center Grand Reopening
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 4:39PMMississippi National River and Recreation Area Celebrates Centennial with New Visitor Center
Joining a national effort to connect with the next generation of park visitors, supporters, and advocates, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area has remodeled its visitor center just in time for the National Park Service centennial. Located in the lobby of the Science Museum of Minnesota, the new visitor center will provide gateway experiences to the Mississippi River and other national parks across the country. The grand reopening will take place on Founders’ Day, the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, with an early-morning sneak preview for press and members of Mississippi Park Connection.
“Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is excited about this project,” said Superintendent John Anfinson. “The new exhibits will provide an interactive and fun way to learn about the Mississippi River in the Minneapolis and Saint Paul area.” The new exhibits will introduce people to a national park experience without leaving the Twin Cities.
Mississippi Park Connection, the park’s nonprofit partner, has co-led the project and raised funds for the new exhibits. Katie Nyberg, executive director of Mississippi Park Connection, noted that “The new exhibits will give people unique experiences like seeing inside a bald eagle’s nest. All the exhibits will be interactive, hands on and fun.”
The project has garnered $630,000 of support from local and national sources, including the National Park Service Centennial Challenge, National Park Foundation, 3M, the Patrick and Aimee Butler Family Foundation, and the Prairie Island Indian Community.
Who: Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Mississippi Park Connection
What: Mississippi River Visitor Center Grand Reopening
Where: Science Museum of Minnesota, 120 W Kellogg Blvd, Saint Paul, MN 55102
When: August 25, 2016 – 8:00-9:30 am Remarks will begin at 8:30.
Scheduled speakers include Representative Betty McCollum, St. Paul City Council Member Chris Tolbert, Superintendent John Anfinson, and Mississippi Park Connection Executive Director Katie Nyberg
About the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
The national park’s 72-mile boundary stretches along the Mississippi River from Dayton/Ramsey, through Minneapolis and Saint Paul, to just south of Hastings. It includes a range of cultural, economic and natural resources — from historic sites like Fort Snelling to unique features including the river’s only major waterfall, to public parks and wildlife refuges. In addition to protecting the river’s nationally significant resources and providing access points for recreation, the park offers a range of volunteer and educational activities, including ranger-led canoe, fishing, biking and hiking programs, and school programs. www.nps.gov/miss.
About Mississippi Park Connection
Mississippi Park Connection is the official charitable partner of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. The connection supports programs that educate, encourage recreation, revitalize our community, and restore our natural spaces. Mississippi Park Connection also provides capacity for the park to enhance and expand programs that serve the general public, including outdoor activities, cell phone tours, web programs, and volunteer experiences. www.parkconnection.org
About the National Park Service
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for the 412 parks in the National Park System and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.
