The Alaska SeaLife Center opened on May 20, 1998, on the shores of Resurrection Bay in Seward, Alaska, built to study and protect the northern marine environment after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill devastated the region’s coastline. Of the project’s roughly $55 million cost, about $37.5 million came directly from the Exxon Valdez oil spill settlement, with the rest raised through bonds and local donations.
Unlike a typical aquarium, the SeaLife Center combines public exhibits with a working research institution and Alaska’s only permanent marine mammal stranding and rehabilitation program under one roof. Visitors can watch Steller sea lions, harbor seals, puffins, and a giant Pacific octopus while the same building’s scientists study the marine ecosystem the animals come from.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Seward, Alaska, on Resurrection Bay
- Opened: May 20, 1998
- Size: About 115,000 sq ft
- Species: A diverse mix of marine mammals, seabirds, fish, and invertebrates native to the Gulf of Alaska
- Annual Visitors: More than 100,000
- Famous for: Alaska’s only permanent marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation facility
A Public Aquarium Built From Tragedy
The Alaska SeaLife Center exists largely because of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Settlement funds tied to the 1989 disaster covered the bulk of construction costs, turning a response to environmental catastrophe into a permanent research and education institution on the Kenai Peninsula.
Since gaining accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in September 2011, the center has remained one of the small percentage of U.S. zoos and aquariums to hold that distinction, reflecting standards for animal care and conservation work.
Marine Research and Wildlife Rescue
Water for the center’s tanks is pumped directly from Resurrection Bay, supplying habitats that house Steller sea lions, harbor seals, seabirds like puffins, fish such as wolf eels and rockfish, and invertebrates including giant Pacific octopuses and jellies.
Beyond exhibits, the SeaLife Center runs Alaska’s only permanent marine mammal stranding response program, rehabilitating stranded seals, sea otters, and seabirds found along the state’s coastline, work carried out by the same staff who study the species on public display.
Explore more: More Zoos & Aquariums.
Alaska SeaLife Center FAQs
When did the Alaska SeaLife Center open?
It opened on May 20, 1998, in Seward, Alaska, funded largely by Exxon Valdez oil spill settlement money.
What makes the Alaska SeaLife Center different from a typical aquarium?
It combines public aquarium exhibits with an active marine research facility and serves as Alaska’s only permanent marine mammal stranding and rehabilitation center, all in the same building.
What animals can visitors see there?
Exhibits include Steller sea lions, harbor seals, tufted and horned puffins, a giant Pacific octopus, and a range of other fish, seabirds, and invertebrates native to Alaska’s waters.
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