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Courtesy of Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium
2015 WOW Construction
2 of 2
Courtesy of Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium
2015 WOW Construction
The long-awaited Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium opens this Thursday, September 21 in Springfield, Missouri. Museum visitors will be able to walk 1.5-plus miles of trails and 350,000 square feet of exhibits that contain 35,000 live fish, mammals, reptiles, and birds from around the world.
An array of colorful tropical fish swim inside the museum's 300,000-gallon aquarium. The display of African Savanna animals includes a life-sized giraffe. And exhibits include galleries with 4-D dioramas.
According to public relations manager Shelby Stephenson, visitors will experience changes in temperature, sounds, and even smell throughout each exhibit. Everything in the museum has been planned to provide a realistic experience. The creators of Wonders of Wildlife hope that the museum will be a catalyst for exploration and appreciation for the great outdoors.
The size of the museum rivals that of the Smithsonian and Natural History Museum in New York. And the Smithsonian took 13 years to complete. “We like to joke that we’re actually running ahead of schedule,” says Stephenson.
The grand reveal of the space will take place on September 21 in honor of National Hunting and Fishing Day. Conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris took over the original Wonders of Wildlife museum after it closed in 2007. The rejuvenated attraction is much larger, and is designed to preserve the legacy of land and wildlife stewards like Teddy Roosevelt as well as to inspire budding environmentalists.
The museum is located next to the Bass Pro Shops National Headquarters, which celebrates hunters and anglers who make efforts to preserve North America’s wildlife diversity and prosperity.
“We’re aiming to honor the outdoorsmen, conservationists, and other adventurers who have helped to discover and preserve American and its incredible natural beauty,” says Stephenson. “Children are undoubtedly spending too much time behind screens. It’s more important than ever in today’s world to expose them to the natural world. We want to be a part of the solution.”
Wonders of Wildlife hopes to be a national destination, but also a place that's accessible to people who might not have the opportunity to travel to places like the Smithsonian and the Natural History Museum in New York.
“This is [Johnny Morris'] way of giving back to the community—his hometown of Springfield," says Stephenson.
Combo tickets for the wildlife galleries and aquarium are $39.95 for adults and $23.95 for children ages 4-11. Gallery-only or aquarium-only tickets range from $9.95–$19.95.
