Ocean Institute unveils $4.8 million Maddie James center
Dana Point's Ocean Institute opens phase two of the Maddie James Seaside Learning Center, a $4.8 million renovation that enhances exhibits. Visitors glimpse a life size gray whale, a three storey kelp forest, a 500 gallon tank, interactive tidepool playscape, and rotating pop-up science displays reflecting local marine life. Maddie James, who died at five, inspired the project and continues to guide the space through visiting children.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dana Point
Maddie James
Ocean Institute
Dana
Kajsa
Maddie James Seaside Learning Center
Seaside Learning Center
Julianne Steers
Institute
Steers
James
The
Ocean Institute Opens Weekdays for All Seekers
The institute reports 115000 annual student visits and 8000 teachers and 50000 public visitors. New seven day access invites pint size visitors and their families to explore tide pool life, with executives noting the change ends gatekeeping and fosters lifelong ocean appreciation through a seaside fundraiser stroll.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Steers
Ocean Institute timeline shows growth from small center to major campus
A timeline recounts the Ocean Institute evolution from its 1977 founding as the Orange County Marine Institute through growth milestones. It covers the 1984 Toshiba Tall Ships Festival, 1992 staff addition of Dan Stetson, 1999 board expansion and capital fundraising, 2002 new $16.5 million center, 2005 Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle, 2013 Maddie James Seaside Learning Center phase one, and the May 2016 Maddie James Seaside Learning Center renovation mark, with founder remarks and rebranding.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
The
Ocean Institute
Orange County Marine Institute
Laguna Beach
Maddie
Strands Beach
Institute
Maddie James
James
New Additions Reveal Kelp Forest Exhibit At Aquarium
New exhibits greet visitors including kelp forest with towering strands and living models. Dana Point Headlands Reef Aquarium shows a 500 gallon tank with kelp community species. A playscape features oversized tide pool animals in an interactive intertidal zone. Life in the Deep explores deep off Southern California coast. Science at Sea presents micro fossils and massive fossilized plankton to teach ocean chemistry and acidification threats.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Steers
Dana Point Headlands Reef Aquarium
Also Mentioned on This Page
Kajsa James
Nick Agro
Tidepool
Laylan Connelly
Toshiba
Dan Stetson
Board of Directors
Kennelly
Ocregister
Orange County Register
OC Register
Brianna Fidel
Melissa Oden
Ocregister.com
Sherry Tate
Deep
California
Nasty Grout
Groutzilla
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!