Alaska SeaLife Center

As the premier public aquarium of Alaska, the Alaska SeaLife Center is a must-see stop on any visit to the Resurrection Bay area. Located on the shores of Seward at the head of the bay, this facility is the only permanent marine mammal rehabilitation facility in the state.

About the Alaska SeaLife Center

The mission of the Alaska SeaLife Center is to support the integrity of the delicate marine ecosystems of Alaska. They do this through extensive research and conservation efforts, public education, and rehabilitation and release of Alaskan marine mammals. Open since 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center is the only facility of its kind in the world that is dedicated to furthering the understanding and research of the northern marine environment.

Visiting the Alaska SeaLife Center

Over the years, the Alaska SeaLife Center has continued to grow and expand—adding a touch tank of small marine invertebrates and the popular Nose 2 Nose exhibit with an Octopus Grotto in 2016. As a top-tier public aquarium and unparalleled research facility, visiting the Alaska SeaLife Center is an adventure for young and old alike.

There's a free shuttle by the city of Seward that stops at the Alaska SeaLife Center during summer months.

History

The idea for the Alaska SeaLife Center began in the 1990s, after the supertanker Exxon Valdez dumped more than 11 million gallons of oil in March 1989—contaminating 1,000+ miles of shoreline around Prince William Sound. In 1993, the criminal settlement from the oil spill was put towards the opening of the center, with the remaining cost made up through local fundraising efforts and selling bonds.

In May of 1995, the groundbreaking ceremony for the center took place, with it opening to the public in 1998. The initial vision of the center was formed by Seward’s community leaders, and they wanted to further support the work being done by the existing research facilities at the University of Alaska’s Seward Marine Center.

Today, the center operates as a private, non-profit corporation with a public aquarium, research facilities, and Alaska’s only rehabilitation program for treating and releasing sick or injured marine mammals back into the wild.

Interesting Facts

As one of the only non-profit organizations worldwide that offers both a research facility and public aquarium in the same building, the Alaska SeaLife Center gives a unique and fascinating glimpse into the balance of Alaska’s marine ecosystems.

• The Alaska SeaLife Center partners with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, along with several other federal, state, and international organizations, research operations, and universities.
• Every effort is made to fully rehabilitate sick or injured marine mammals that are treated at the center, but if they are not able to be released, they are cared for at the center or another facility.
• The Alaska SeaLife Center studies more than just marine mammals—with a focus on researching the entire marine ecosystem of Alaska, they also study sea birds, fish, invertebrates, and endangered or threatened species.
• With accreditation granted in 2011 by the Associate of Zoos and Aquariums, the Alaska SeaLife Center is in the top 5% of the United States’ zoos and aquariums.
• Extensive opportunities for community education are available at the Center, including a year-round Discovery Education program that offers day class and overnight experiences.

Points of Interest

If you’re looking for close encounters with sea lions, octopus, puffins, and other wildlife of Alaska’s marine ecosystem, the Alaska SeaLife Center is the place for you. Located just off the beautiful Seward Highway, the Center is an easy-to-access attraction that offers experiences you can’t find anywhere else in the world.

View all of our Seward tours and things to do in Seward.