Marine Mammal Center Reopens for the First Time Since Pandemic Closure
The Marine Mammal Center in the Marin Headlands of Sausalito will reopen its doors this week for the first time in two years, after being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the center reopens Friday, visitors can expect to see a completely renovated interior, a sea otter mural, an interactive map and several new exhibits. As the largest marine hospital in the world, the center took the break in visitor traffic as an opportunity to make significant renovations, according to a center press release.
The Visitor Center renovation is a complete remodeling and envisaging of the 2,700 square foot indoor visitor experience spaces, with additional enhancements to the outdoor visitor areas. These mark the first renovations of the Visitor Center since the grand opening in 2009, when visitor numbers averaged fewer than 30,000 people. Now, with over 100,000 visitors coming annually, The Marine Mammal Center is well-equipped to create impactful experiences for visitors from all over the world, including thousands of local students for whom the Center has long been a favorite field trip destination in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The center’s new touch-screen exhibit will allow visitors to look behind-the scenes through photos, videos and live-stream feeds of various places throughout the hospital. The renovations to the Marine Mammal Rescue, Dispatch, and Life Support Building are a transformation of the 1,400 square foot building. The Center operates the busiest marine mammal rescue hotline on the West Coast, responding to 10,000-15,000 calls per year. The improved building now has a new and unique office space specifically tailored to the needs of the Center’s dispatch and life support teams, which include many volunteers. The space, which is located near the pens and pools, will enable the Center to safely and efficiently support the staff and volunteers engaged in the core work of rescuing and rehabilitating sick and injured marine mammals.
Visit the world’s largest marine mammal hospital to see animal care experts providing life-saving care to patients so they can be released back to the wild. Tickets are free but must be booked online in advance. Reserve your spot.
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