Visitors and dignitaries including Vice President Dick Cheney will get a first glimpse inside Grand Teton National Park’s new, state-of-the-art visitor center following a public unveiling Saturday.

Inside, park visitors will encounter panoramic views of the Tetons, streaming video embedded in the floor, a floor-to-ceiling mural, a how-to climbing wall and geology exhibits, just to name a few of the interior highlights. The building’s design funnels visitors through an entry that keeps mountain views hidden until they arrive inside – guaranteeing a grand entrance.

The National Park Service will dedicate the new, $21.5 million center during an outdoor ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Following the dedication, visitors will be invited inside to explore the building for the first time. The event is free and open to the public.

This summer, Congress named the building the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in honor of former U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo., who was a park advocate and watchdog before he died while battling leukemia in June. Thomas’ wife, Susan, will be a guest speaker at Saturday’s event, along with U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and National Park Service Director Mary Bomar.

On Tuesday, Grand Teton National Park officials confirmed that Cheney also would attend the event and dedicate the center in Thomas’ name. Cheney was one of the original board members of the Grand Teton National Park Foundation when the organization was formed in the late 1990s.

The Park Service partnered with two nonprofit organizations, Grand Teton National Park Foundation and Grand Teton Association, which both raised private money to help pay for the 22,000-square-foot center. The Seattle architectural firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson designed the building, and a national firm, Ralph Appelbaum Associates produced the exhibits inside. The design goal has been to create a space that educates and inspires, according to officials.

People planning to attend the dedication are encouraged to arrive between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. and to carpool.