Souvenir Idea For
North Dakota Heritage Center
The North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck stands as the largest museum in North Dakota and serves as the premier institution preserving the state's rich cultural heritage. Located on the grounds of the State Capitol, this Smithsonian-affiliated museum features four expansive galleries that chronicle 600 million years of history, from ancient geological formations to contemporary Native American culture. Visitors explore the Adaptation Gallery showcasing prehistoric fossils and Ice Age mammals, the Innovation Gallery highlighting early European settlement and agriculture, the Inspiration Gallery celebrating Native American traditions and arts, and the special Governors Gallery. With interactive exhibits, authentic artifacts, and engaging educational programs, the Heritage Center offers an immersive journey through North Dakota's diverse past, making it an essential destination for understanding the Northern Plains experience.
Your Interactive Digital Journey Through North Dakota History
Six Featured Exhibits with AR Smart Souvenir Coins
Triceratops & Dinosaur Fossils
Scan the Triceratops skull display to unlock a 3D AR model of this magnificent creature in its natural habitat. Watch as the prehistoric beast comes to life in your space, complete with animated movements and educational narration about North Dakota's Cretaceous period when dinosaurs roamed these ancient lands.
Native American Heritage
Experience the rich traditions of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nations through interactive AR content. Scan traditional artifacts to reveal their creation stories, cultural significance, and virtual demonstrations of how these items were crafted and used in daily life by the original inhabitants of this land.
Lewis & Clark Expedition
Unlock AR recreations of the Corps of Discovery's 1804-1805 winter at Fort Mandan. View 3D models of the fort, expedition equipment, and interactive maps showing their route. Hear journal entries from Lewis and Clark describing their encounters with Native American tribes and the harsh North Dakota winter.
Pioneer Homestead Life
Scan the homestead cabin display to activate an immersive AR experience of pioneer life on the Dakota prairie. See virtual settlers demonstrating daily activities like churning butter, plowing fields, and surviving brutal winters, while learning about the challenges and triumphs of early European settlement in North Dakota.
Oil Boom & Modern Industry
Discover North Dakota's transformation through oil discovery with AR visualizations of drilling technology evolution. Interactive custom coins unlock 3D models of oil rigs, geological cross-sections showing the Bakken Formation, and timeline animations depicting the state's economic development from agriculture to energy powerhouse.
Native American Art & Crafts
These interactive AR souvenir coins bring traditional beadwork, quillwork, and pottery to life. Scan exhibits to watch virtual artisans demonstrate ancient techniques, learn about symbolic patterns and their meanings, and explore a digital gallery of contemporary Native American artists continuing these cultural traditions today.
Where to Get Your Smart Souvenir Coins
- Museum Store Location: Purchase your arTag™ Smart Souvenir Coin at the North Dakota Heritage Center Museum Store, conveniently located on the main level near the entrance. The friendly staff can answer questions about these custom coins and the AR guide service.
- Admission Desk Bundle: Available as part of a special visitor package at the admission desk. Ask about combo deals that include museum entry and your NFC souvenir coin with unlimited access to all AR experiences throughout your visit and beyond.
- Premium Collectible Package: The complete arTag™ suite includes a beautifully embossed metal coin featuring North Dakota imagery, NFC smart sticker, soft magnet sticker, protective acrylic capsule, and activation card—all presented in an attractive package perfect for gifts or personal collections.
- Online Pre-Order: Pre-order your interactive coins through the museum's website before your visit to ensure availability. Pick up your smart souvenir coins at the will-call desk and start your digital journey immediately upon arrival.
How to Use Your AR Smart Coins
Step 1: Tap or Scan to Activate
Simply tap the NFC sticker on your smart souvenir coin with your smartphone (works with most modern phones) or scan the QR code. No app download required—the WebAR guide launches instantly in your mobile browser for immediate access to the interactive coin experience.
Step 2: Scratch & Enter Your Activation Code
On your first use, scratch off the activation code on your included card and enter it to unlock the full AR guide service. This personalized registration ensures your custom coins remain exclusively yours while preventing unauthorized access to premium content.
Step 3: Scan Exhibits to Unlock AR Content
Walk through the Heritage Center and use your phone's camera through the WebAR guide to scan designated exhibits marked with AR icons. Each scan unlocks immersive 3D models, animations, virtual guides, and exclusive content that enhances your user digital experience at the museum.
Step 4: Enjoy Unlimited Future Access
Your NFC souvenir coins provide permanent access to your collected AR content. Tap your interactive AR souvenir coins anytime to revisit your virtual museum collection, share experiences with friends, or explore new content added by the Heritage Center—your smart coins keep giving long after your visit!
Benefits of Smart Souvenir Coins for North Dakota Heritage Center
Premium Revenue Stream
These custom souvenirs offer exceptional profit margins while providing genuine value to visitors. Unlike traditional memorabilia, AR souvenir coins combine physical collectibility with ongoing digital engagement, justifying premium pricing and creating a high-margin product that enhances the museum's financial sustainability.
Extended Visitor Engagement
Smart souvenir coins keep visitors connected to the Heritage Center long after their physical visit ends. The NFC souvenir coins enable ongoing interaction with museum content, encouraging repeat visits, social media sharing, and word-of-mouth promotion as users rediscover their AR collection and share experiences with others.
Social Media Marketing Tool
The WebAR guide embedded in these interactive coins includes direct links to the museum's social media channels, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube accounts. Visitors naturally share their AR experiences online, creating organic marketing content while building the Heritage Center's digital follower base and online community presence.
Enhanced Educational Impact
Custom coins with AR guide service transform passive observation into active learning. The user digital experience deepens understanding through interactive 3D visualizations, animations, and multimedia content that makes North Dakota history more accessible, memorable, and engaging—especially for younger, tech-savvy visitors and school groups.
Valuable Visitor Analytics
NFC souvenir coins provide rich data about visitor behavior, popular exhibits, engagement patterns, and content preferences. These insights help the Heritage Center optimize exhibit design, develop targeted content, improve visitor services, and make data-driven decisions about future investments and programming initiatives.
Distinctive Brand Differentiation
Offering cutting-edge AR souvenir coins positions the North Dakota Heritage Center as an innovative, forward-thinking institution. These custom souvenirs create a unique selling proposition that distinguishes the museum from competitors, attracts tech-interested visitors, and generates media coverage and industry recognition as a digital pioneer.
Ready to Transform Your Museum Experience?
Discover how arTag™ Smart Souvenir Coins can enhance visitor engagement, create new revenue streams, and position your venue at the forefront of interactive museum technology. Join the North Dakota Heritage Center and other leading institutions in offering custom coins that combine collectible value with immersive AR guide service.
Get Started with Smart Souvenir Coins Today