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The University of Texas Marine Science Institute is the Texas Coast’s oldest and most prestigious marine research facility, founded in 1892 to study the region’s unique marine flora and fauna. The facility’s permanent marine laboratory was established in 1946 and featured two buildings that still stand today as part of the institute’s campus. Today, UTMSI’s Marine Science Education Center serves as the institute’s public educational museum, offering seven aquarium exhibits showcasing the marine life of varied Texas coastal ecosystems. The Estuary Exploratorium teaches visitors about the environment of local estuaries, while the Wetlands Educational Center offers opportunities for waterfowl and marsh birdwatching. A wide variety of public outreach programming is presented, including guided tours, educational field trips, children’s camps, and a lecture series.
750 Channel View Dr, Port Aransas, TX 78373, Phone: 361-749-6902
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