Like many projects, exhibits have humble beginnings. The exhibits at the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center began with a series of goals on post-it notes. “Visitors should: Be astounded! Appreciate cranes AND other wildlife! Understand the interdependence of the Platte River ecosystem and the prairie. Make a personal connection to nature.” Our role as exhibit designers was to create an exhibit that not only achieved all those goals but also told a compelling story, delighted visitors, inspired action — and folded into a closet!  

At EDX, we design exhibits that help museums, nonprofit organizations, and parks engage thousands of visitors each year, connecting people from all walks of life with nature and history. When we began this project, we were immediately inspired by Rowe Sanctuary's unique story. Nowhere else in the country can visitors witness a migration event of this scale, and it all happens during a few weeks each year along just five miles of river. But as we worked with sanctuary staff, we learned that the Sandhill Crane migration is only part of what makes Rowe special. The new exhibits use the cranes as a hook to introduce visitors to the prairie, the river, the people who lived here in the past, and the people who work hard to conserve it today. We relied heavily on Rowe staff to be our content experts on these topics, from advising on the right shape of a Grasshopper Sparrow nest to providing context for the history of dams on the Platte.  

During the eight weeks of “crane season,” Rowe receives about 35,000 visitors from around the world. In the remaining 44 weeks, they receive about 15,000 visitors, the majority of whom are local. Rowe needed the exhibits to engage all visitors, creating a satisfying experience for both seasoned international birders and local second graders. The local second-grade audience led us to design bright, colorful graphics inspired by the prairie in springtime and the river at sunset. We created moments of wonder by populating the graphics with illustrated animals for all ages to discover. Complicated concepts and photographs were located higher up for the senior birder to enjoy, while touchable models were placed at kids’ eye level to draw their interest. Filled with birds and mammals, plants and insects, the new exhibits teem with life.  

Rowe's spatial needs were as varied as its visitors. We were given two rooms to work in: the lobby and the newly renovated discovery room. These spaces needed to work as a school trip destination, a tour staging area for 600+ visitors during crane season, a wedding venue, and an event space hosting VIPs. To accomplish this, all the primary exhibits needed to be movable and fit inside a storage closet. We designed three pairs of rolling modular tables that each tell a discrete part of Rowe’s story. That way, even when one or two of the tables are in storage, the exhibits won’t appear incomplete. The tables have designated spots for regular use, but can be arranged around the perimeter of the room when clear space is needed. The vibrant murals, too, were designed to pull double-duty, both conveying ecological information and providing a beautiful backdrop during special events.  

Whether you are coming to Rowe to see the crane migration, go for a walk in the prairie, or volunteer on the Platte River, we invite you to step inside the newly reopened visitor center. You will learn the story of Rowe Sanctuary and all its inhabitants, how to tell a Great Blue Heron from a Sandhill Crane, and how Rowe uses tractors to remove trees from the river to protect vital crane habitat. We hope you will: Be astounded! Appreciate cranes AND other wildlife! Or even — make a personal connection to nature!

- EDX Exhibits