Flint Hills Discovery Center Offers Interactive Prairie Experience for Fall Visitors
MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Flint Hills Discovery Center continues its mission to inspire visitors to celebrate and explore the region's unique tallgrass prairie ecosystem as fall approaches, offering a range of interactive exhibits and educational programming designed for all ages.
Located at 315 S. 3rd St., the 35,000-square-foot municipal heritage and science center serves as a dynamic tribute to the last major stand of unbroken tallgrass prairie in North America. The facility features exhibits detailing the ecology, history and culture of the Flint Hills region, which spans several hundred miles across eastern Kansas and north-central Oklahoma.
The centerpiece of the visitor experience is the Horizon Ranch Flint Hills Immersive Experience Theater, which features a 120-degree curved screen showcasing "Tallgrass Prairie: Tides of Time," a multimedia presentation with panoramic photography and special effects that brings the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the area to life. The 15-minute film includes sensory elements designed to provide visitors with an elevated immersive experience.
The renovated Prairie Playscape offers a specialized interactive playground for families, featuring three themed areas focused on exploring the land, working the land and sharing the land. Children can climb, jump and build while exploring more than 10,000 square feet of interactive exhibits highlighting the people, places and wildlife that make the tallgrass prairie unique.
The facility's Tallgrass Gallery provides 2,000 square feet of exhibition space for rotating displays, while permanent exhibits explore topics ranging from pre-history to present day, including the geology, biology and cultural history of the Flint Hills ecosystem.
Adult and family programming includes engaging day trips to locations across Kansas, with nature lessons provided by Discovery Center staff and local experts. The center also offers Discovery Camp for students in grades K-2, focusing on science, technology, engineering and math education as it relates to the Flint Hills region.
The Discovery Center operates Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The facility is closed Mondays. Current admission rates are $12 for adults ages 18-64, $10 for seniors 65 and older, military personnel, students and educators, and $7 for youth ages 2-17.
The Discovery Center hosts several annual signature events throughout the year, including Kansas Day celebrations on Jan. 29 and the Flint Hills Festival, which focuses on the history, culture and resources of the Flint Hills region. The 2025 Flint Hills Festival, held in May, attracted more than 5,000 attendees and featured live entertainment, food trucks, wine tastings and children's activities.
The center also serves as a venue for private events, offering both indoor and outdoor spaces that can accommodate gatherings ranging from intimate daytime meetings to large exclusive evening events. Event rental includes on-site staff assistance and access to the facility's exhibits and galleries.
As a proud partner of Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area, the Discovery Center provides visitors with passport stamping opportunities for the heritage trail. The facility also features a gift shop and outdoor terrace with panoramic views of Manhattan.
Additional information about current exhibits, programming and admission is available at flinthillsdiscovery.org or by calling 785-587-2726.