The Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield is celebrating its grand opening Friday near the official National Hunting & Fishing Day, celebrated Saturday. Founder of Bass Pro and owner of Wonders of Wildlife, Johnny Morris says the project was some nine years in the making and claims it will be the largest, most immersible fish and wildlife attraction in the world. His hope is the facility will have a “profound, positive long-term impact on the future of hunting, fishing and conservation in America.”Wednesday offered a live internet stream with a sneak peak into the museum and aquarium, as part of a national conservation summit, which included guests and dignitaries from across the nation such as former presidents Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush and Kevin Costner. The event can be viewed in its entirety on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa3P9DX2JTY
According to a press release from the organization, Wonders of Wildlife consists of an all-new 1.5-million-gallon aquarium adventure showcasing 35,000 live fish, mammals, reptiles and birds, and more than 70,000 square feet of an immersible wildlife museum that brings visitors eye-to-eye with what’s called the greatest collection of record-setting game animals ever assembled, including the Boone and Crockett Clubs National Collection of Heads and Horns.
Other notable features include the International Game Fish Associations (IGFA) Fishing Hall of Fame, the National Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum and the National Archery Hall of Fame.
Located adjacent to Bass Pro Shops National Headquarters in Springfield, the 320,000-square foot facility has 1.2 miles of trails. The entire experience is designed to celebrate people who hunt, fish, and act as stewards of the land and water.
Tickets are available online at http://www.wondersofwildlife.org/tickets/ and to see both the museum and aquarium the price is $23.95 for children ages 4 to 11 and $39.95 for adults. Options to see just the aquarium or wildlife gallery are also available.
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