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A New Exhibit

Hope, a Special Orca
She beached herself and died, leaving behind a young male, mourning nearby. Later she was found to be carrying a massive load of toxic contaminants. With such an important story to tell, she inspired us to launch The Orca Project.

The circumstances highlighted by the life and death of this orca have much to teach us about marine mammals that share our waters and about the challenges they face today. To share this compelling message we will build a new exhibit hall by expanding our Natural History Exhibit. It will feature the articulated skeleton, one of only 5 orca skeletons on display in the US today. Interactive educational panels and video displays will be featured and there will be space for class instruction. A new hydrophone listening station will be added to our Marine Exhibit so that you can listen to orcas as they travel in the Salish Sea.

The Orca Project
Orcas are social creatures who usually spend their entire lives with their mothers. They occupy the top niche in their food chain, as we do. They hunt together and communicate through vocalisation.

Through the display of her skeleton and an exciting new exhibit, the Orca Project will foster understanding of our connections with the ocean, and the intersection of our lives with the lives of these remarkable animals. These insights are important as we work to build a healthy future for all creatures, including ourselves.

Port Townsend Marine Science Center
-- an ideal home for this special exhibit

 For nearly 30 years, the Port Townsend Marine Science Center has been teaching people of all ages to be stewards of our marine resources.

Twenty thousand people, including 7,000 students, partake in PTMSC programs annually.

Located on the shores of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Admiralty Inlet, PTMSC is ideally situated to track the movement of both resident and transient orca pods through the Salish Sea.

The Orca Project has already attracted the attention of scientists and naturalists througout the country.

Educators, students and visitors can see orca pods, listen to their communications on our hydrophone, and track their journey through our busy waterways.


 


“The PTMSC must be congratulated for telling this tragic story and demonstrating, by exhibiting her skeleton, the health and welfare risks to people and marine mammals, if the contamination of the Salish Sea is allowed to continue. Through additional knowledge, the trend of increasing contamination of our food web and its habitat can be reversed.”

– J. Pete Schroeder, DVM

Join the Orca Project today!
Your donation will help build the exhibit space, articulate the bones in stunning life-like displays, educate people of all ages about our connections with the oceans, and engage the community in the study of the whale. This can only be accomplished with your help! Donate to the Capital Campaign.