Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium

Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium

Main entrance
Date opened November 1, 2001
Location Springfield, Missouri, USA
Coordinates 37°10′53″N 93°17′47″W / 37.1814°N 93.2965°WCoordinates: 37°10′53″N 93°17′47″W / 37.1814°N 93.2965°W
Number of species 225
Memberships AZA
Website www.wondersofwildlife.org

The American National Fish and Wildlife Museum, doing business as Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium, also known as Wonders of Wildlife Zooquarium or just Wonders of Wildlife in Springfield, Missouri, showcases more than 225 species of live animals, fresh and saltwater aquariums, interactive displays and educational programs. The 92,000-square-foot (8,500 m2) facility, designed by Cambridge Seven Associates, opened on November 2, 2001.[1][2] The attraction closed in December 2007, with the announcement of a planned expansion that would have increased the square footage of the facility by 58 percent, at a cost of $25 million. Subsequently, museum representatives have announced a much more ambitious expansion, at a cost of about $80 million. They expect to open the Conservation Education Center by the end of December 2011, with the rest of the museum planned to be open by December 2012.[3] As of 2014, the museum is still closed for renovations. It's expected to reopen in March 2015. [4]

Inception

Wonders of Wildlife is a result of intensive lobbying campaign and financial support of John Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops. He campaigned and lobbied for the ballot initiative that funded the $52,000,000.00 cost of building the museum and the creation of a museum district to oversee the planning, design, and construction of the museum.[5] An agreement with the City of Springfield allows a portion of the city's hotel-motel tax to be used for capital projects.[6] This project also received $1.5 million in federal appropriations.[7]

Features

Missouri wildlife habitat exhibit

The museum replicates the native Ozark habitat and serves as home to many Missouri wildlife species.

The Community Pond

This area provides visitors with a view of Missouri pond life from underneath.[8]

Meeting facilities

The museum is available for hosting receptions, dances, and parties. It can accommodate 400 people in its upper and lower lobbies. Larger groups can rent the entire facility, and smaller groups can take advantage of the Conservation Library, Out to Sea Gallery, or Tropical Coast room.[8]

Out to Sea Gallery

"Out to Sea Gallery"

The "Out to Sea" exhibit features a 21-foot (6.4 m) deep, 225,000-US-gallon (850,000 l) aquarium. It houses sharks, rays, and a variety of other tropical fish.[9]

Future development

The museum will also house the "Archery Hall of Fame and Museum" and the Fred Bear Museum.[10]

Notes

  1. ↑ "American National Fish & Wildlife Museum (Wonders of Wildlife)". Cambridge Seven Associates. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  2. ↑ "Environmental Excellence: Welcome to our newest neighbor". Springfield-Greene County Steering Committee. Winter 2002. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  3. ↑ Williams, Jessica (2011-06-04). "Wonders of Wildlife: What's Taking So Long?". OzarksFirst.com (Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.). Retrieved 2011-06-05.
  4. ↑ http://www.wondersofwildlife.org/
  5. ↑ "89th General Assembly: L8005.04T 1998". Missouri House of Representatives. 1998. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
  6. ↑ Bridges, Amos (2011-07-25). "City of Springfield gets better credit rating". News-Leader.com. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
  7. ↑ Bond, Christopher (2001-11-01). "Letter from Senator Bond to Wonders of Wildlife". U.S. Senate. Archived from the original on 2010-12-05. Retrieved 2011-06-05.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "New Museum Offers Unique Meeting Space". MeetingsNet. 2001-08-13. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
  9. ↑ McEowen, Bob (November 2001). "Wonders — Wild & Alive". Rural Missouri. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  10. ↑ "Wonders of Wildlife: Design and Construction Update for City of Springfield." (PDF, 23 MB). American National Fish and Wildlife Museum Board of Directors. 2009-10-13. p. 23. Retrieved 2010-05-08.

External links