Old Faithful To Get New Visitor Center

There's going to be some construction at Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park for the next two years as a new visitor's center rises above the geyser basin.
The 33,000-square-foot facility is going in thanks in large part to the Yellowstone Park Foundation, which today presented Yellowstone Superintendent Suzanne Lewis with a symbolic check for $15 million. The money was generated by a fund drive that began back in 2000.
The new visitor center, which is expected to open in the fall of 2008, will carry a more rustic architectural style than the existing facility, which will be torn down. The building will feature an auditorium, classroom, research library, bookstore, backcountry office, and exhibits on Yellowstone's geothermal features.
Total cost of the facility is roughly $26 million. Park officials were not available today to say whether they've received a dedicated appropriation to pay for and run the new center, or whether they'll have to snatch the money from elsewhere in their budget.
Construction is scheduled to begin later this summer.