Main Level Plan

The proposed expansion of the North Dakota Heritage Center will increase the original building by 125,000 square feet for exhibit, educational, public, and staff support spaces and collections storage, serving the needs of the state’s history agency for the next 20 years.

Expanded galleries for temporary exhibits, paleontology, First People, business history, the history of science and technology, and modern North Dakota and more.

	Governors’ Gallery: Expanded space to house temporary world-class exhibits from other museums such as the Smithsonian’s Catlin exhibit, the Viking exhibit and the national Lewis and Clark exhibit and to showcase collections of the State Historical Society.
	Geological Time Gallery: Expands the opportunity to display the increasingly rich state collections of fossils and geological exhibits of the North Dakota Geological Survey. Specimens from the state fossil collection include the Mosasaur, the Triceratops, the duckbill dinosaur, the rhinoceros and sabre tooth tiger. This space can also tell the climate and geological stories behind North Dakota landscapes and today’s oil, gas and coal industries in our state.
	First People Gallery: Interpreting thousands of years of human occupation in what is now North Dakota based on Native American advisors, field research, and the extensive and impressive archaeological and historical collections of the Society.
	North Dakota – Inspiration, Opportunities and Innovation Gallery: Focuses on telling the settlement story of North Dakota up to the most recent history of our state. Collections will highlight significant contributions North Dakotans have made in science, technology, manufacturing, retailing and professions at all levels here and elsewhere. This new space will be designed to inspire the innovators of tomorrow.
	North Dakota Corridor of History: Impressive gathering space with living murals to highlight the historical, cultural and natural sites throughout the state and region. Windows to the south lawn of the North Dakota Heritage Center provide an impressive and relaxing view on the capitol grounds.
	Youth Interactive Spaces: Hands on interactive learning labs for children and curious visitors.
	Great Plains 3-D Theater: Modern technology used to tell the tales of the plains pioneers, the early peoples, the roaming dinosaurs, tales of travelers and adventurers and futuristic visions of North Dakota.
	Museum Store: Up front and impressive, a high-quality venue with the best of what North Dakota has to offer.
	Red River, Sheyenne River and Souris River Halls: Connections, pathways through history tying issues and events and big ideas of change. These temporary galleries will share additional collections with the public.
	James River Café & Badlands Plaza: Relaxing, refreshing stop on a day of exploring our state’s largest museum and a much needed outdoor patio for receptions and events overlooking lawn exhibits.
	Missouri River Special Events Center & Catering Kitchen: Front foyer and current entrance transformed into magnificent gathering space for conventions, seminars, workshops, dinners, weddings, receptions and more.
	Outdoor Exhibits: Four major outdoor exhibit spaces with gardens giving visitors spaces to enjoy, explore and relax.