The Estuarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab celebrated its 20th anniversary in March. The Dauphin Island Sea Lab's public aquarium opened in 1998, expanding the education and outreach arm of the state of Alabama's marine science education center.
Development of the Estuarium began in 1992 with the development of the Living Marsh Boardwalk. An education center followed in 1994 with the renovation of the former Air Force radar tower on campus.
The Estuarium, as it stands today, opened its doors on March 21, 1998. Exhibits take visitors on a journey from the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, through Mobile Bay, into the northern Gulf of Mexico, and to the Barrier Islands. Since its opening, the Estuarium has adjusted, expanded, and added exhibits such as the Rays of the Bay touch taken and Windows to the Sea.
To mark the anniversary, the Friends of the Sea Lab held a special event on Friday, March 23 with a panel discussion with former Executive Director Dr. George Crozier, DISL's first aquarist Dwayne Biggs, Estuarium Architect Mac Walcott, and Estuarium educator Mendel Graeber.
Take a look at the journey of the Estuarium via the video below. Plan your visit today at disl.org/estuarium.
Estuarium 20th Anniversary Lookback from Dauphin Island Sea Lab on Vimeo.