| Sunday | 10:00 am | 5:30 pm |
| Monday | Closed | |
| Tuesday | Closed | |
| Wednesday | 10:00 am | 5:30 pm |
| Thursday | 10:00 am | 5:30 pm |
| Friday | 10:00 am | 5:30 pm |
| Saturday | 10:00 am | 5:30 pm |
Here is the whale. The one you came to the museum to see. The largest animal to have ever existed--dwarfing even the *Titanosaur* upstairs. And this is as close as most of us will ever get. It lives up to the hype. But there is so much more to experience in this gallery that you could spend most of your visit to the museum in the Hall of Ocean Life. Explore the exhibits, great and small, watch the films and enjoy one of the greatest interior spaces in the entire city.
The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. - Jacques Yves Cousteau
Even without the Blue Whale this collection would be high on you list to see. The hall contains examples of all the all-star species of the sea: sharks, eels, giant squid, walrus and polar bears, giant crustaceans and tiny fish. Go slow, listen to the sounds of the sea, and appreciate the variety of life found in the ocean. The biggest reward for a careful visit is the fascinating and horrifying facts you learn about the deepest, most mysterious creates of the sea--how they eat, reproduce and survive without sunlight. Creative and terrible solutions.
The museum goes to great lengths to immerse visitors in the habitats of its specimens and the cultures of the world. In the Hall of Ocean life they approach perfection. From the lighting to the sound to the very architecture of the room--everything is constructed to make visitors feel immersed in the Ocean. It is a beautiful experience. But also, considering some of the creatures lurking in the depths and scattered on the walls, it can be terrifying. Look up, look down, explore the walls and check the dark corners. This is a place of beautiful monsters.
