The Visitor Center is open on its fall-winter schedule, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursday through Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday), except during Whale Watch Week, when we're open daily.
We are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

Coming events

Whale Watch Week at HMSC
December 26- 31 (open daily!)

Daily events:

• 11 am-1 pm - Gray Whale calf skull preparation and articulation demonstration by Suzy Roberts
• 1:00 Public demonstrations on feeding behavior of the giant Pacific octopus or wolf eels
• 1:30-2:30 Marine mammal program in Hennings Auditorium featuring hands-on whale biofacts such as baleen and skulls

Daily updates on migrating gray whales will be posted on the Information Board.

Marine mammal videos will be shown in the Auditorium

Special marine mammal displays and exhibits are featured throughout the Center

Salmon Shark Necropsy at HMSC
January 10, 2009, 1:30 p.m.

Between late August and early November of 2008, more than a dozen young salmon sharks were reported stranded on Lincoln county's beaches. While dead salmon sharks have been identified previously, this year's large number is unusual. On Saturday, January 10th at 1:30, the public is invited to observe the dissection of at least two of these small sharks. Tissue and vertebrate samples will be extracted for future scientific analysis.

Looking ahead:

February: FossilFest 2009

Join us on Feb. 14 for one of our most popular annual activities, a chance to learn about fossils of the Oregon coast, bring in your own fossils for identification and swap with other fossil-hunters.

Oregon Coast Quests
ongoing, year-round

Oregon Sea Grant and the Visitor Center have teamed up with other state and county organizations to present Oregon Coast Quests, fun and educational clue-directed hunts that encourage the year-round exploration of areas of natural and cultural significance in Lincoln County. In this self-guided activity, Questers are challenged to follow a map and find a series of clues designed to help them locate a hidden box -- and have fun learning along the way. Read all about this great new family activity ! New Quests are coming soon!

Hatfield Marine Science Center
Where science is always fun!
Admission is by donation; fees are required for classes and group activities

Don't forget to check what's going on at the Visitor Center bookstore, too.

Public viewing feeding times

Many visitors enjoy watching the aquarists feed our larger live animals, including the resident octopus. With our winter hours, the feeding schedule for the wolf eel and giant Pacific octopus will
be:

Sundays: Wolf eel feeding at 10:30 a.m.
Mondays: Octopus feeding at 1 p.m.
Thursdays: Octopus feeding at 1 p.m.
Fridays: Wolf eel feeding at 10:30 a.m.
Saturdays: Octopus feeding at 1:00 p.m.

Other activities:
Guided tours and nature walks

Educational tours are available to groups for a small fee to help cover staff costs. Our volunteers and staff strive to provide every curious visitor with a friendly interpretive visit. To assist them in that goal, we request at least one week's advance notice for groups of more than a dozen people. Tour and fee information is available here.

For those who prefer to explore on their own, a pleasant, wheelchair-accessible paved trail permits easy access to the sights and sounds of the Yaquina Bay Estuary, with interpretive signage. And visitors are always welcomed to explore the indoor exhibits and auditorium presentations free of charge and have their questions answered by our volunteers.

For more information or to set up a tour, contact Maureen Collson, 541-867-0159 or 2030 S. Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365.

Explore and enjoy from home:

Podcasting the HMSC: Ocean Learning is a virtual video tour of the Visitor Center via your iPod or computer.

Breaking Waves: Read the new Oregon Sea Grant blog and keep informed about events at the Visitor Center and other ocean and coastal news.

On-line adventure: Sounds from the Southern Ocean 2006

Marine educator Bill Hanshumaker's journal of his second trip to Antarctica with an acoustic research team led by HMSC scientist Robert Dziak. Read about his adventures in his 2006 expedition blog - and read about the 2005 voyage here.

Home | About the Center | Current Events | Exhibits | Learning | Marine Research
The Visitor Center Bookstore