The excitement is doubled at the Oklahoma Aquarium with the grand opening of a new exhibit, the launch of a redesigned Web site and a spring break camp convenient for working parents.
For the past 12 months, visitors to the Oklahoma Aquarium have been able to watch the construction progress of the Hayes Family Ozark Stream. On March 7 the Oklahoma based exhibit opened. The Hayes Family Ozark Stream is not only the largest addition to the Aquarium since opening in 2003, it also features the Aquarium’s first mammals: beavers, raccoons and river otters along with Oklahoma fish such as small mouth bass and sunfish. The unique design of the exhibit allows guests to come nose to nose with the animals, separated only by glass. Hand-carved concrete mimics the rocky cliffs of Northeastern Oklahoma at the foot of the Ozarks, and a crashing waterfall adds to the ambience, even the lighting and temperature contribute to the environment.
The public opening was preceded by a private dedication and ribbon cutting on March 6. Guests of honor included Dr. Jeanne Hayes, the wife of the late Dr. Mark Hayes who fought tirelessly to educate the public about the importance of stream ecology and to promote the revitalization and protection of Oklahoma’s scenic waters. He worked to revitalize a stretch of Battle Branch Creek on the Hayes Family farm in Delaware County and collaborated with Aquarium biologists to develop and help fund the Ozark Stream exhibit. He hoped the exhibit would leave people with a greater understanding of why it is so important to protect this vital piece of Oklahoma’s natural environment.
Oklahoma Lt. Governor Jari Askins, J.D. Strong, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Secretary of the Environment and officials from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will also attend.
The Oklahoma Aquarium is also thrilled to announce the launch of an all-new, redesigned Web site www.okaquarium.org. Aquarium staff contracted with Tulsa company Straxis Technology to develop a site that is colorful, interactive and educational. It is user-friendly for finding basic information such as hours and signing up for school field trips. The new website also features a section called “Whoa! Cool!” It will be updated frequently to show video and photographs of aquatic life both at the Oklahoma Aquarium and in the wild.
