A $185,000 tourism grant from the Montana Department of Commerce was recently awarded to the Crown of the Continent Discovery Center in West Glacier for a new multimedia display featuring the region. 

The Crown of the Continent is an area that includes Glacier National Park, Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, Flathead Lake, Alberta, British Columbia and many other unique locations. The Discovery Center hopes to bring attention to all the other “little gems” along the way, owner Pat Tabor said.

The interactive display will move the Discovery Center away from the “archaic model” of the traditional visitor center and toward an experience for both adults and children, Tabor said. The goal is to have it finished by May 1 of next year.

Previously, the center had only two pedestal kiosks to hold tablets for visitors to browse tourist destinations. Tabor’s dream is to see kids interacting with the display and learning about tourism in the Crown, rather than just adults looking at a computer screen.

The main feature of the new display will be a 3-D map with buttons to display information about the Crown. 

The display will have an interactive kiosk with a directory of businesses, tourism companies and city chambers. The directory will be made of post cards with a company’s logo and QR code that people can use to access more information on a smart phone. Also, films by the Crown of the Continent Geotourism Council will play continuously in the space.

The National Geographic’s principles of geotourism will be incorporated into the full design, Tabor said. Geotourism strives to sustain and enhance the character of a place. One of the principles encourages people to buy local.

The Discovery Center maximizes on the concept by selling Made in Montana products, becoming the largest retail center of these products within the state, Tabor said.

Geotourism also encourages companies, organizations and individuals to join together cooperatively to enhance tourism rather than be exclusive and competitive in the business.

Tabor said that there is a standing invitation for people to contact the Discovery Center if they want to have a presence in the project. 

Geotourism pushes for projects where “every person has a piece of the action,”  he said.

To get involved, call the center at 387-4405.