The goals for the visitor center are to help the visitor grasp how important the refuge is to millions of animals. The exhibit design evokes the river through high-impact images and three-dimensional vignettes, as well as through overall shape, texture and color. Photomurals dominate the interior, organic shapes define space, and dioramas immerse visitors. There is also an emphasis on tactile and interactive experiences so that people literally feel in ‘touch’ with the refuge. Two major themes at the visitor center are the value of the Upper Mississippi River to wildlife and the profound consequences of ongoing human impact on the region. As a result most of the interior is dedicated to birds and their habitats, while other exhibits will focus on human presence on the river.
Upper Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge
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