Published on
September 19, 2025
Located in Oklahoma City, The First Americans Museum (FAM) has introduced its new center, the FAMily Discovery Center (FDC), as part of its new change in policy. The FDC features new interactive technology aimed at immersing visitors of all ages in the unique cultural heritage of the 39 Oklahoma First American Nations. Its 5,000 square feet and 2 stories tall make the FDC incredibly fun and custodial, especially thanks to its pop-up book styled architecture and design. The FDC can be enjoyed by entire families, as it strives to teach value in culture and learning through its stories, technology, and skillful crafting of culture.
Inevitably, there will be some players and visitors who would be especially excited to learn all about the equipment and tools used by the Native Americans. These sorts of artifacts can be accessed by an array of visitors collaborating in groups with other learners. The FDC is certainly a cultural and technological marvel, and thus is of value to families.
Embracing Imagination as the Centerpiece for the Family Discovery Center
The Family Discovery Center differentiates itself with the almost surreal experience of walking straight into the world of a memorable pop-up book animated with gigantic animal relatives with wonderful special effects. The animated book exhibit places guests inside a rainforest, breathing life into the myths and legends of an Oklahoma Native American people, where visitors of all ages can experience the animated rainforest in only an hour. The pop-up book exhibit dramatically emulates the entire cycle of the forest as seamless transformations in sound and light, mimicking winter, spring, summer, and fall unfold before the audience.
The Family Discovery Center is home to The Fab Six, a complimentary set of animal relatives in a tribal system inspired by the Native American clan systems. The Fab Six guides the audience through the rainforest where they can experience animal relatives as translucent creatures of light, engage in activities, cultural stories, and bonus quests related to “The Oklahoma Native American Virtual Scavenger Hunt,” where the guests can pop-up book learn of the richness of diversity in Native American cultures. The visitors embrace this land where eco-justice honors Indigenous peoples’ histories, languages, stories, cultures, traditions, and ecosystems, centering respect, resilience, stewardship, and community. Native people and non-Native people alike find harmony.
Multifaceted Narratives and Active Engagement
Focused on fostering inquiry within a learning and constructivist environment of play, The FAMily Discovery Center integrates STEAM activities with hands-on playful activities to offer a new experience at every point of inquiry. The learning experience is composed of several facets, including elements of sound and visuals, and stories and terrains to which the participants can connect. Visitors can explore over 100 species of plants, animals, and ecosystems within the geography of Oklahoma, which they learned about, and the manner in which they learned it reflects the traditions of the First American Nations. The museum storytelling method teaches participants about the intertwined cultures and the natural world around them.
The overall construct is original thanks to the cleverly employed vector Adobe Illustrator, which guarantees any object can be sized without any loss of image quality. The 25-foot-tall artworks that adorn the FDC walls and ceilings not only embody stunning big art but also extreme cultural significance. The space is then filled with color through geometric designs by UK illustrator Mark Oliver, who is noted in the field for splashy use of pigments. Each element of the work is brought to life with high precision and clarity, evoking a sense of beauty that strikes a balance between contemporary and authentic representations of Native culture.
Showcasing Voices of Native Americans in the FDC
Among the many qualities that stand out in the Family Discovery Center, the integration of Native American voices and stories is exceptional. Visitors will listen to the narration of some prominent native Americans, such as Joy Harjo, the first Native American U.S. Poet Laureate and member of the Muscogee Nation. Also, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, a Blackfeet actor, writer, and singer, and Chickasaw NASA astronaut, Commander John Herrington, who flew on the Space Shuttle Endeavor, provide their voices. Such narrations enhance the immersive experience by adding a degree of authenticity and ensuring that the Native audiences have a genuine engagement with the narrations and the traditions represented.
The FDC is a space that permits Indigenous families to see their stories, while simultaneously allowing non-Native visitors to access a wider appreciation of the complex narrative that weaves Oklahoma and the United States of America. The space aims to celebrate and represent the mosaics of Indigenous cultures and patterns, with every design, soundscape, and interactive component meticulously curated.
An Attraction for All Ages
Although the Family Discovery Center is aimed at children and their families, the Center is equally interesting for adults. From learning about the ecological systems that support Native communities to the rich intertwining of culture and environment, there is something for everyone. The FDC stimulates curiosity and imagination and promotes learning at all levels. It is a place that enables families to come and engage with new ideas, learn about forgotten histories, and enjoy learning about the First American Nations.
The Future of the Family Discovery Center
By inaugurating the Family Discovery Center, the First Americans Museum has equally positioned itself as a leader in interactive cultural learning with the Center’s FDC. The FDC is not simply an exhibit, but an opportunity for participants to immerse themselves in another world where the joy of Learning is interwoven with the First American Nations’ rich cultures. The FDC, as the museum is growing and expanding, remains pivotal to the Center’s mission of celebrating Native American cultures and making their stories accessible to wider audiences.
Every visitor to the FDC, no matter their age, walks away with value, for the FDC grows curiosity and a sense of interconnectedness. Besides self-knowledge, there is a thick sense appreciation for fundamental cultural principles that highlight interdependence, which Native traditions have honored through conservation and appreciation of the forest.
The Family Discovery Center, located in the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, is a remarkable accomplishment that none of the other museums have tried. The Center integrates technology and storytelling with cultural learning and fosters an intergenerational space for exploration and connection. With the opening of the FDC, Oklahoma takes yet another step towards celebrating the cultural richness of the First American Nations. For families, the FDC will be a place of deep reflection, for the Center offers an enriching experience through a navigable, vibrant, and animated book.
