MT. MITCHELL INTERPRETIVE CENTER

Mt. Mitchell Heritage Prairie Park is a hill formation that carries natural, cultural, and historical significance in Wamego, KS. A landform shaped by glaciers 600,000 years ago is now covered by native tallgrass, wildflowers, and quartzite boulders. It is an American Indian Sacred Ground and has relationships to the Oregon Trail and Underground Railroad. What might the public gain from visiting this site, and how might we design a space to transition visitors into an introduction to a site intertwined with natural and cultural values? Imagining this space I introduced a scenic walk into the base of the hill, and connected an exiting trail to the existing 2 ½ mile trail that eventually reaches the summit. The exterior form is horizontal to blend with the landscape, cascading down the hill and integrating the exterior with experiences everywhere around the building.

The plan exhibits various programs from a bookstore to event rooms. The bar scheme organizes between public and private for administration, library, and collections. Allowing the most public uses to face toward the summit, the building captures a language with the landscape.