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
November
15
2025
Black-Footed Ferret Exhibit Opening & Celebration
Nov 15 / 10:00am
American Prairie is excited to announce the official opening of a new permanent exhibit at the National Discovery Center, located in Lewistown! The exhibit features a live endangered black-footed ferret on loan from the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center in Colorado. The exhibit opening and celebration begins Saturday, November 15 at 10 am with fun, hands-on activities for kids, followed by a series of afternoon presentations by expert speakers on black-footed ferret conservation. There will also be a screening of the documentary “Ferret Town” following the presentations. This event is FREE and open to the public.