The $44 million overhaul of the ancient site is meant to transform visitors' experience of Stonehenge.
Monumental experience —
The $44 million overhaul of the ancient site is meant to transform visitors' experience of Stonehenge.
english heritage
The elegant pavilion of glass and weathered wood forms a new gateway to the enigmatic millennium-old monument.
Thing of glass and wood —
The elegant pavilion of glass and weathered wood forms a new gateway to the enigmatic millennium-old monument.
Str/Matt Cardy/Getty Images
The center has been designed to blend with the surrounding terrain. Previously, a traffic-snarled highway encroached.
Built environment —
The center has been designed to blend with the surrounding terrain. Previously, a traffic-snarled highway encroached.
James O. Davies/English Heritage
One of the visitor center's prime attractions is the reconstructed head of a Neolithic man's skeleton found nearby.
Neolithic man —
One of the visitor center's prime attractions is the reconstructed head of a Neolithic man's skeleton found nearby.
James O. Davies/English Heritage
The ancient Briton's skeleton shows his age more clearly.
Ancient evidence —
The ancient Briton's skeleton shows his age more clearly.
Str/Matt Cardy/Getty Images
The stones are a magnet to assorted druids, pagans and other revelers at winter and summer solstice.
Druid magnet —
The stones are a magnet to assorted druids, pagans and other revelers at winter and summer solstice.
Stringer/Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Another exhibit lets visitors experience -- virtually -- dawn from the center of the stone circle. Minus typical English drizzle.
Circular view —
Another exhibit lets visitors experience -- virtually -- dawn from the center of the stone circle. Minus typical English drizzle.
Clare Kendall/English Heritage
Some among the druids say the transformation of an ancient skeleton into a visitor attraction is disrespectful to its long-dead owner.
'Disrespecting the dead' —
Some among the druids say the transformation of an ancient skeleton into a visitor attraction is disrespectful to its long-dead owner.
Str/CARL DE SOUZA/Getty
The new center also gives visitors a bird's eye view of the stones -- in miniature.
Monument in miniature —
The new center also gives visitors a bird's eye view of the stones -- in miniature.
Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images
What the center cannot do is shed definitive light on why the 4,000-year-old stone circle was built in the first place.
Enduring mystery —
What the center cannot do is shed definitive light on why the 4,000-year-old stone circle was built in the first place.
English Heritage
Outlandish theories on the construction of Stonehenge involve UFOs and wizards. A recent, more sober explanation is that it may have been part of a larger funeral complex.
Plans from outer space? —
Outlandish theories on the construction of Stonehenge involve UFOs and wizards. A recent, more sober explanation is that it may have been part of a larger funeral complex.
AFP/Getty Images