visitor center

The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, an innovative public-private initiative between Grand Teton National Park and Grand Teton National Park Foundation, opened August 11, 2007. The 22,000-square-foot center and its upcoming auditorium is a vastly improved year-round facility that orients, educates, and inspires, encouraging visitors to make their own discoveries once they move outdoors.

The new 22,000-square-foot facility’s intriguing design invites the growing numbers of visitors to come inside, but it’s the captivating interior and state-of-the-art exhibits that ultimately persuade them to stay. The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center emphasizes the interconnectedness of humans and nature—in our shared past, in our present enjoyment of this natural resource, and in our duty to be responsible stewards of this magnificent ecosystem.

Three main themes featuring people, place, and protection are explored through interpretive displays, such as the large relief model of the park that uses technology to demonstrate glacier movement and animal migration, touchable objects and artifacts, children’s exhibits, a streaming in-floor video, and a dramatic photomural tribute to Teton mountaineering that utilizes the center’s 30-foot walls. Each area contributes its own valuable insight into the story of the Tetons and enables visitors to form connections with the park that will endure for years to come.

The $21.6 million visitor center was funded with an $8 million congressional appropriation and $13.6 million in private-sector gifts. As one of the largest campaigns undertaken by a private foundation in collaboration with a national park, the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center is receiving national attention and serving as a model for other national parks and friends organizations around the country. A donor recognition wall in the new facility shows visitors that private philanthropy was a major component in the project’s success and reinforces the idea that our national parks depend on generous supporters to survive. The visitor center campaign generated significant interest, allowing the Foundation to complete its initial goal early and extend the campaign to raise an additional $3.2 million for a 154-seat auditorium. The Foundation’s fundraising efforts for the auditorium are almost complete.

The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center is located right off Teton Park Road in Moose. To speak with a ranger at the visitor center, call (307) 739-3399. View hours of operation at their website.