About the National Discovery Center
Two of the core tenets 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
Black-Footed Ferret Exhibit Web Cams
Upcoming Events
February
26
2026
A Sense of Place: Exploring the Place Names of ’Ɔ́’ɔ́ɔ́ɔ́niinénn ɔh in Central-Montana
Feb 26 / 7:00pm
In this important presentation, Terry Brockie, will lead an examination of a place-based learning experience from the perspective of the ’Ɔ́’ɔ́ɔ́ɔ́niinénn ɔh, an Indigenous Tribe commonly known as the Gros Ventre, who now reside on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Since time immemorial, Indigenous People have called Central Montana home, a place where their culture and history are tied to the land. Here, there exist many stories particular to the surrounding landscape, woven through various mountain ranges, rivers, and places, each with historical significance to a particular Tribe. Brockie explains that there are places where ancestors traditionally rested, specific buffalo jumps they utilized, places where they could gain spiritual power to heal or to protect, or a sheltered river valley that allowed them to winter safely. He points out that Indigenous People often believe that a supreme power purposefully guides them, placing the Tribe in a particular area where enough is provided for them to survive and thrive. Mr. Brockie, a member of the Aaniiih Nation and a teacher of the Aaniiih language at Aaniiih Nakoda College, will share these stories to help us understand the connections between culture, history, and place.
March
20
2026
4-H: Six Montana Stories: A Screening with Montana PBS
Mar 20 / 7:30pm
In honor of their 40 th anniversary, Montana PBS will offer a free public screening of the film 4-H: Six Montana Stories. A brief question and answer session with Gus Chambers, the film’s producer, will follow the screening. During the past 100 years, much about 4-H has changed. It remains Montana’s largest out-of-school program, with one of six school-age youth participating. It remains the best program to learn about livestock, cooking and sewing, but over the years, new projects have been added, including photography, robotics, and film making. In fact, 4-H offers more than 200 different projects and learning experiences for young people. 4-H: Six Montana Stories follows six young Montanans who participate in the program. Gus Chambers, who wrote, produced, and directed the film, together with the staff of the Montana 4-H Center for Youth Development in Bozeman, selected six “typical” 4-H members to profile, each chosen for their diverse interests, projects, goals, and backgrounds. Chambers shadowed each participant for an entire year “capturing their ups and downs, their triumphs and losses, and their daily routines.” The screening will be in the Clyde Aspevig Event Center, located inside the National Discovery Center. Doors open at 7 pm. The screening begins at 7:30. Free admission.
April
4
2026
Viktor Valkov in Concert at American Prairie
Apr 4 / 2:00pm
Celebrated classical pianist Viktor Valkov will perform live at American Prairie’s National Discovery Center in Lewistown. Valkov, who holds a Master’s in Piano from The Juilliard School and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, regularly performs with symphony orchestras throughout the world, including in his native Bulgaria. He also performs as a soloist and has amazed audiences from Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Wigmore Hall to countless venues around the globe. He was the winner of the 2012 New Orleans International Piano Competition. His concerts reflect a vast interest in chamber music as well as lesser-known piano repertoire. He frequently performs with Bulgarian cellist Lachezar Kostov as the Kostov-Valkov Duo. In 2009, the Kostov-Valkov Duo gave its Carnegie Hall debut and in 2011 won the Liszt Prize at the Liszt-Garisson International Competition. Admission is free.
May
2
2026
EcoCritters with ZooMontana
May 2 / 10:00am–2:00pm
Staff from the Billings Zoo will bring a variety of live animals and other bizarre critters to Lewistown during this fun and educational event for kids and adults!
May
23
2026
The Art of Carol Guzman: An American Prairie Exhibition
May 23 / 1:00pm–4:00pm
American Prairie’s National Discovery Center will host the works of esteemed artist Carol Guzman from May through October 2026. The exhibit opening event is May 23. Carol Guzman, a native of St. Louis, early in her career worked and studied in New York City and the Hudson Valley, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Art and Art History. At the Parsons School of Design, she studied the techniques of the Old Masters and painted portraits, still life, and landscapes in her Tribeca studio. According to carolguzman.com, she drew from traditional techniques, creating oil paintings that “transcend alla prima painting.” Working over a period of time in layers, she creates “visual texture and interest.” Her subject matter is broad, ranging from still life, florals, wildlife, and landscapes to Native American artifacts and antique toys. Carol is also founder of Landsnorkel.com, which is about taking time to savor nature with no particular destination in mind. She happily lives in south central Montana with her artist husband Clyde Aspevig.
May
27
2026
Sea of Grass: A Presentation and Book Signing with Dave Hage
May 27 / 7:00pm
Join American Prairie for a conversation and book signing with Dave Hage, author of Sea of Grass: The Conquest, Ruin, and Redemption of Nature on the American Prairie. In his newly-released (2025) book from Random House (co-authored by Josephine Marcotty), Dave Hage discusses the “history, destruction, and potential future of the North American tallgrass prairie, examining how industrial agriculture transformed this rich ecosystem, its environmental consequences, and the on-going efforts for conservation and sustainable farming.” Hage, a veteran journalist from the American Middle West, takes an in depth look at the challenges facing that region, “highlighting the importance of the prairie beyond the heartland.” The prairie of North Central Montana is discussed in the book, as is American Prairie and the Matador Ranch. A Q&A session and book signing with Mr. Hage follows his presentation. Free admission.
June
13
2026
EcoCritters with ZooMontana
Jun 13 / 10:00am–2:00pm
Staff from the Billings Zoo will bring a variety of live animals and other bizarre critters to Lewistown during this fun and educational event for kids and adults!
June
17
2026
Baroque Music Montana presents Beyond Baroque: Hymn of Thanksgiving – Beethoven’s Quartet Op 132
Jun 17 / 7:00pm
This world-class gut-string quartet performs one of the most revered of the entire string quartet repertoire, the late Beethoven String Quartets. Artists include Carrie Krause (violin), Maureen Murchie (viola), Michael Untermann (cello), and other accomplished musical artists. Free admission.
July
11
2026
EcoCritters with ZooMontana
Jul 11 / 10:00am–2:00pm
Staff from the Billings Zoo will bring a variety of live animals and other bizarre critters to Lewistown during this fun and educational event for kids and adults!
July
11
2026
A Black-Footed Ferret Birthday Party at the National Discovery Center
Jul 11 / 10:00am–4:00pm
Kids and adults are invited to join staff and friends for a lighthearted birthday celebration for “Bandit,” the black-footed ferret on loan from the National Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center (US Fish and Wildlife Service). The party will feature ferret-related giveaways and snacks, plus a photo opportunity with our BFF mascot! Be sure to come by the National Discovery Center to tell this endangered species “Happy Birthday”! Free admission.