The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) is collaborating with the City of Santa Cruz and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation in a public-private partnership to design and build the MBNMS Exploration Center. The City has provided the ¾ acre lot at the Fun Spot, ONMS has provided the funding to construct the building and the Foundation is conducting a $3 million Capital Campaign to pay for the exhibits.
The Exploration Center will encourage visitors to examine this remarkably productive marine environment, the issues impacting the sanctuary and their personal roles in protecting one of our nation's treasures. ust steps from the ocean in Santa Cruz's famed beach area, this facility will provide state-of-the-art, interactive, interpretive exhibits to an anticipated 200,000 visitors annually and will highlight environmentally sustainable green design and construction methods.
