Experience The Olympic Coast

The Next Chapter

Step inside a space designed to connect you with one of the most diverse and dynamic marine environments in the world.

The Olympic Coast Exploration Center is not just a collection of exhibits.

It’s a gateway.

Located in Port Angeles, the center connects visitors to the broader Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary — spanning miles of protected ocean, coastline, and ecosystems that define this region.

What begins inside the building extends far beyond it.

Modern glass-fronted building with people walking and standing outside, some with children and strollers, cars parked nearby, trees, and a blue sky with clouds.

A Starting Point For Exploration

Map of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State highlighting the Olympian Coast National Marine Sanctuary, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Olympic Coast Exploration Center near Port Angeles.

The new center will be located at the Port Angeles Waterfront Center on the west end of downtown Port Angeles.

It will be part of a broader campus that includes the Field Arts & Events Hall and the future Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Cultural Center.

Together, these spaces create a destination that brings together arts, science, culture, and community life — reflecting the full identity of the Olympic Peninsula.

The location strengthens visibility, accessibility, and the center’s role as a gathering place for both residents and visitors.

Exhibits That Bring The Coast To Life

The center will feature six primary exhibit areas, each designed to make the Olympic Coast tangible, interactive, and understandable.

VISITORS WILL EXPERIENCE:

  • The sanctuary system and whale migration patterns

  • Stories of the Peoples of the Peninsula and habitat restoration

  • Touch tanks, rocky reef and kelp forest environments, and a giant Pacific octopus

  • Local watersheds and the legacy of Arthur D. Feiro

  • A state-of-the-art seabird exhibit exploring interspecies connection

  • Ocean science, including remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and current research

Design of an indoor marine exhibit with a whale sculpture and a large glass wall showing ocean scenery.
A world map with a silhouette of an adult and child holding hands in front, surrounded by floating circular photos of children playing in water, coral reefs, and people fishing, with text about the ocean connecting the world.
Exhibit showcasing shellfish aquaculture with a display tank, a depiction of underwater shellfish environment on the wall, and people observing the exhibit.
A museum exhibit with silhouettes of people observing bird displays, and informational boards on the wall.

Meaningful Educational Experiences

A puffin swimming in the water with its distinctive black and white plumage and orange beak.

Select exhibits will feature live animals native to the region, including seabirds such as tufted puffins and marine species from local ecosystems.

The new facility is designed to support modern standards of care, with dedicated systems for life support, veterinary oversight, and habitat management.

This ensures the wellbeing of each species while creating meaningful, educational experiences for visitors.

Hands-On, Accessible & Adaptable

Visitors won’t just observe — they’ll engage.

  • Interactive exhibits invite exploration and discovery

  • Educational spaces support learning across all ages

  • Flexible environments allow the center to evolve over time

This is a space built to inform and involve.

Exhibit gallery with displays and photographs about ocean science, including images of people exploring the deep sea and underwater scenes.

Be part of something that will last for generations.

This project is made possible through a combination of public funding, private support, and community investment. With significant funding already secured, the next phase focuses on bringing the full vision to life.

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