NATCHEZ — Visitors to Natchez may have something new to greet them in the coming months.

National Park Service officials are looking at updating exhibits at the Natchez Visitor Reception Center.

“I think 10 years in, it’s time to say what works well, what doesn’t and what we need to have and don’t need,” Natchez National Historical Park Superintendent Kathleen Jenkins said Thursday.

A group of National Park Service officials recently toured the visitors’ center and offered suggestions, Jenkins said.

The changes will mostly be focused in the lobby of the center, including, among other things, a large timeline of Natchez’ history.

“The timeline on the wall will show all the threads of Natchez’ history,” Jenkins said. “That’s something we don’t have.”

Tentative plans also include kiosks in the lobby that will display artifacts and exhibits in the bookstore, she said.

The park service has dedicated $90,000 toward engineering and design work for the building, Jenkins said.

“Right now, we’re trying to get requests for proposals,” or bids, Jenkins said. “It will be several months before they start.”

The park service is willing to dedicate up to $180,000 to implement the remodeling designs, Jenkins said.

“This is an orientation center to all of Natchez,” Jenkins said. “This is the place where people gain get an overview and understand the whole Natchez story.”

An average of 650 people walk through the visitors’ center doors every day, Tourism Director Walter Tipton said. A facelift would be welcome because the center is integral to Natchez tourism, he said.

“Clearly, it’s one of the focal points as far as a gateway, both from a welcome center standpoint and a city standpoint for first impressions,” Tipton said.

Alderman Bob Pollard, chair of the board’s tourism committee, said he was excited about the prospect.

“Ours is a model visitors’ center,” Pollard said. “We’ve got people from other cities coming to see how we do it. It’s very important for it to be a first-class operation.”

Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis, chair of the public properties committee, said she hoped to see some of Natchez’ civil rights movement included in the new displays.