There are more geysers and hot springs in Yellowstone than in the rest of the world combined, yet most visitors used to leave the Park without a basic understanding of the rare and precious geysers they saw or the volcanic activity that was happening beneath their feet. Now all that has changed.

A new Visitor Education Center near the heart of Yellowstone National Park – Old Faithful Geyser – is enhancing the experience of visitors and their appreciation for Yellowstone.

The state-of-the-art Old Faithful Visitor Education Center opened on August 25, 2010. It will serve nearly three million visitors per year, and is a model of sustainable building practices.

Hundreds of individuals, foundations, and corporations contributed to the Yellowstone Park Foundation’s successful $15-million capital campaign to build this new Center. These generous donations are matched by $12 million in federal funding for the project.

Check out photographs of the construction process, along with some interesting facts about the "green" elements of the building.

To learn more about Yellowstone's geothermal wonders, explore the educational exhibits under development, and view interactive media, visit the Old Faithful Virtual Visitor Center.