Opening Arches' New Visitor Center in 2005

The current Arches Visitor Center celebrated its grand opening in 2005.

NPS/Chris Wonderly

September 17, 2005: The opening of a new visitor center heralds a new era in visitor services at Arches National Park.

The Old

The first National Park Service (NPS) building in the park, a 12-foot by 14-foot structure near Double Arch which served as a visitor contact station, was constructed in 1939. After the Civilian Conservation Corps crew, stationed near what was then Arches National Monument, left, a surplus building was acquired to use as the first real headquarters. Located near The Windows Section, the building was "an interpretation center of sorts…(complete with privy and garbage can, finally), [and also NPS acquired] a has-been patrol truck, and a horse and corral," according to the custodian’s report. During the early 1940s, interpretation for visitors consisted of one outdoor sign that showed the location of some of the arches.

Arches Visitor Center in 1960.

NPS Photo

The first building actually designed and constructed as a visitor center opened in 1960, with exhibits, restrooms, and water. The building was designed to accommodate an annual visitation of 60,000 people and provide office space for the few staff on duty then. With a few remodels during the years of its use, the building included approximately 6,000 square feet. Between 1980 and 2000, visitation grew by nearly 300 percent. In 2005, annual visitation neared 800,000 with up to 3,000 people per day using the visitor center. Today, Arches sees more than 1.5 million visitors annually.

The New

Planning for a new visitor center building design began in 2003. A unique feature of this project included the selection of the architectural firm and the exhibit designers, who worked together throughout the design phase. Integrating exhibit design into building design results in better utilization of space, more creative exhibits, and a more visitor-friendly flow.

When the new facility opened, it included:

• a large outdoor plaza for after-hours information and trip planning;
• a 150-seat theater with a 15-minute orientation film
• interactive computer programs for visitors to plan their trips, research arches, and identify and learn about the park's plants and animals;
• an animated geology production, showing 300 million years of change in the landscapes;
• extensive new exhibits; and
• a separate space specifically designed for Canyonlands Natural History Association sales.

The old building was remodeled and utilized for staff offices; some offices are in the new wing also.

Timeline

• 2001: Planning began
• July 2001: Exhibit design contract awarded
• May 2002: The NPS Development Advisory Board approved the visitor center project. Senator Bob Bennett secured funding for construction in the fiscal year 2003 budget, with a cap of $6.8 million for planning, design, and construction. Congress appropriated $5.6 million for construction in the fiscal year 2003 budget.
• April 2004: Construction bid awarded
• May 2004: Construction began.
• June 2004: Operations moved to the temporary visitor center and office trailer.
• July 2004: Exhibit Design Plan completed
• September 2004: Exhibit fabrication contract awarded
• 2004-2005: Construction continued ahead of schedule; exhibit fabrication continued.
• June 2005: Building was accepted by NPS.
• July 2005: Exhibits installed
• August 2005: Doors opened to the public for a “test period.”
• September 2005: Ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 17.

Contributors

• Architect: VCBO Architecture
• Exhibit Design: EDX Seattle
• Construction: Hogan and Associates
• Exhibit Fabrication: Southern Customs Exhibits of Alabama; Matthew Gray Palmer, Sculptor; Chase Studio; Natural History Models; Somerset Group, Multimedia
• Productions: Film Production: Discovery Channel
• Planning and Oversight: National Park Service staff from Arches National Park, Southeast Utah Group, Moab, Utah; Denver Service Center, Colorado; and Harpers Ferry Media Design Center, West Virginia