In 2023, The National Scenic Visitors Center, a non-profit based in Zionsville, Pennsylvania, will engineer the creation of an extraordinary new exhibit in the Lehigh Valley. This exhibit is Earthwalk USA ~ a giant-sized, walkable, 3D, physical relief map of the United States, featuring the continental landforms of the country, and including Alaska and Hawai’i in accurate geospatial orientation.

With their own feet, visitors explore hundreds of scale miles of mountains, plains, rivers and cities. Geoshow narratives project stories onto the map surface, such as bird migration, Native American trails, and more.

The Earthwalk USA map showcases the breadth, history, and geology of our country from a bold new perspective. It’s a science adventure, cultural experience, and one-of-kind traveler’s guide to America. We hope you’ll join us in helping to bring this world-class experience to the Lehigh Valley.

This has been a watershed year for the National Scenic Visitors Center℠, thanks to the engagement and support that so many have provided.

Earthwalk ExplorerSM, our walkable, physical relief map of the Eastern USA, kicked off with three presentations in 2021, then traveled to several additional sites across Pennsylvania, bringing us to a total of nearly 20,000 map walkers. 96% of visitor reviews gave it a five-of-five (and some a ten out of five!). In our NSVC Educational Evaluation surveys, children in grades 3-6 showed a significant gain in knowledge of the content in the Native-American themed Geoshows.

NSVC’s track record with Earthwalk Explorer has proven our concept sound, public interest strong, and our vision achievable. Based on these results, our Board of Directors has set NSVC’s strategic direction: Starting in 2023, the National Scenic Visitors Center will begin the capital campaign for a permanent, large Earthwalk USASM map in Eastern Pennsylvania. At 100 ft. long, this beautiful map will be another step on the path to our original vision, the 100 yard long Earthwalk USA ‘Zenith’ map (Zenith is our working title), as seen in the IMAGINE! video available for viewing on this website.

We’re garnering the resources and personnel to forward this grand plan for the Zenith. A feasibility study is in the works, administered by members of the NSVC Board, Advisory Council, Consulting Crew, and Volunteers; all key contributors to our mission.

A watershed year indeed, with a bold plan to guide us to the next horizon!

​We’re getting close to 2023!

It’s been a super busy 2022 for the National Scenic Visitors Center team. But the horizon, come January, is taking on a whole new perspective, which we’ll be sharing with you here. A quick recap is in order.

Most recently, and quite significantly, the NSVC, featuring our Earthwalk Explorer 16 x 8 ft. walkable relief map of the Eastern USA, appeared ‘on the floor’ at the Association of Science & Technology Centers national convention this past September, in Pittsburgh PA.

We watched as many feet walked the Explorer map at the ASTC convention, expressing various forms of amazement, professional interest, and personal engagement.

Our installation team of Stephanie, Mike, and Angel made the NSVC booth set-up and breakdown a smooth-as-silk endeavor, despite the various random aspects that always present themselves on large trade show floors.

Duquesne University graciously provided lodging, support, and lent their esteemed Environmental Sciences Dean Emeritus Phil Reeder, who engineered our board meeting on campus and then steered us to a wonderful Chinese restaurant to sate our appetites and further rally our enthusiasms.

At the top of the NSVC ledger of notable happenings is what we’re calling the ‘Pittsburgh Pivot’; a re-energizing of the goal to produce our 100 yard long, meticulously detailed, one-inch-equals-one-mile scaled walkable map of America ~ Earthwalk USA. Hawai’i and Alaska reside in geospatial harmony, and the map surface lights up with dynamic data featuring everything from weather to gold seams to ice cream stands.

Stay tuned for twenty-twenty-three, as it queues up to be a momentously mappable magnificent adventure for the NSVC team, and more to the point, our visitors ~ You!