PRESS RELEASES 
New exhibits lift USBR center
By Roger S. Lucas
The Star (Grand Coulee, WA) May 3, 2006
Think you’ve seen everything at the Visitor Center? Think again.
All the displays are new, and interesting. Allow yourself plenty of time to view and interact with the displays.
The all-new Visitor Center is open to the public after a year-long development phase and nearly seven years of planning. The Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with extended hours for the summer between Memorial Day and the end of September.
Chamber of Commerce members got an advance peek at the displays last Thursday. The response was very positive, with members saying they would come back when they had more time to participate in some of the interactive units.
A special invitational showing will be held at 3 p.m. Friday. Recently retired USBR Commissioner John Keys will join Regional Director Bill McDonald, local, state, and tribal officials for the dedication and viewing of the displays.
The effort to get into the budget process started about seven years ago and, after funding was assured, 10 firms were invited to share their ideas of what might be done. Two firms were selected and provided $30,000 each to come up with the final plan.
Formations Inc., of Portland, a firm that created a balance of interactive and museum-style displays, won the $800,000-plus contract.
Friday, Craig Kerger, president of Formations, will lead a tour of the exhibits.
Local agencies, the Colville Tribes, and residents of the area, all had an opportunity to share their interests and concerns about what should be done.
Bureau of Reclamation employees Steve Sauer and Craig Sprankle have worked closely this past year with Formations officials and sub-contractors in how displays were developed.
“These displays have been created for school children, so they can understand the dam and the project,” Sprankle told chamber members. Several interactive displays captured the attention of the chamber.
One display, “Balancing Act,” developed by Sprankle, allows the participant to make decisions on what to do during different seasons of the year. The difference between lowering the water behind the dam from 35 to 25 feet affects a lot of different interests.
Many of the exhibits are hands-on, including a virtual tour of the dam by jet pack, and an operating jackhammer.
Accessibility has been one of the key requirements for displays. Textures have been created so visitors can feel the displays. Audio information allows visitors the opportunity to hear the story. And visual presentations allow those who might miss other aspects of the display the opportunity to enjoy their visit.
Displays have multiple levels to accommodate wheel chair visitors.
The all new Visitor Center will bring people back for repeat visits, officials stated.