Last updated: January 23, 2024
Place
Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center
Bureau of Reclamation
Quick Facts
Location:
Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center, WA-155, Coulee Dam, WA 99116
MANAGED BY:
Amenities
11 listed
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information, Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present, Parking - Auto, Parking - Bus/RV, Picnic Table, Restroom - Accessible, Restroom - Family, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Toilet - Flush, Trash/Litter Receptacles
The visitor center is managed by the Bureau of Reclamation. open daily from 8:30 am to 5 pm Pacific Time and closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. More details can be found at the Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center website or by calling 509-633-9265.
The Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center was built in the late 1970s as part of the dam’s Nathaniel “Nat” Washington Power Plant expansion. It was designed by architect Marcel Breuer to resemble a generator rotor. An evening laser light show was added in 1989. The center was retrofitted in 2004 for seismic, life-safety, and accessibility standards. The original laser equipment was replaced in 2013, and a new laser light show, “One River, Many Voices,” premiered in 2014.
In 2006, new exhibits and displays were installed. The exhibits highlight Grand Coulee’s role as one of the main irrigation, flood control, and hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River. They also describe the effects the dam has had on various groups of people, including Native Americans and early settlers. The new exhibits were designed, manufactured, and installed by Formations, Inc., of Portland, Oregon.
This visitor center is fully accessible and features hands-on exhibits and an auditorium. Service animals are allowed inside the visitor center.