Aquariums

Charleston Marine Life Center

Name: Charleston Marine Life Center
Address: 63531 Boat Basin Rd, Coos Bay, OR 97420, Coos Bay, OR, US
Telephone: (541) 346-7280
Rating: 4.8

★★★★☆ 4.8 (488 reviews)

📍 63531 Boat Basin Rd, Coos Bay, OR 97420

📞 (541) 346-7280

🌐 cmlc.uoregon.edu

Visit Website 📍 Get Directions

🕐 Hours

Monday	Closed
Tuesday	Closed
Wednesday	11 AM–5 PM
Thursday	11 AM–5 PM
Friday	11 AM–5 PM
Saturday	11 AM–5 PM
Sunday	Closed

⭐ Want to stand out? Get featured ⭐

About Charleston Marine Life Center

Charleston Marine Life Center is an aquarium in Coos Bay, OR. Charleston Marine Life Center is part of the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology field station, combining public education with active marine research. Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars by 488 visitors.

Quick Facts

Type: Aquarium
Best For: All ages
Location: Charleston, Oregon - on the harbor edge
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 11am-5pm
Highlights: Touch tanks, whale skeletons, marine habitat exhibits, harbor seal and sea lion viewing

💡 Did You Know?

⭐Charleston Marine Life Center is part of the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology field station, combining public education with active marine research
⭐The facility features exhibits of underwater videos from Oregon's marine reserves and undersea vents, providing rare access to deep-sea environments
⭐Visitors can watch live harbor activity and daily fishing boat catch unloading from the aquarium, with opportunities to observe seals and sea lions in their natural habitat
⭐The center offers a High School Students Aquarium Care Summer Internship program, providing hands-on marine biology education and career pathway opportunities
⭐Admission is only $5 per person with exhibits spanning two floors, including coastal habitat aquaria on the first level and skeletal exhibits on the second floor

💬 What Visitors Say

💬Plan for 2-3 hours of exploration. The center has two levels with creatures on the first floor and skeletal exhibits on the second, making it a focused visit rather than an all-day attraction. This helps you budget your time and set expectations.
💡Don't miss the octopus and jellyfish exhibits on your first visit. Staff members are known for proactively showing visitors these highlights and sharing the creatures' names and facts, so ask if you haven't spotted them yet.
🕐Visit Wednesday through Saturday between 11am-5pm. Staff enthusiasm is notably high here, so arriving when staff can engage with you (rather than during off-hours) enhances the educational experience significantly.
💬At just $5 per person, admission is very affordable. This low cost combined with the interactive touch tanks and knowledgeable staff makes it excellent value for a quick family outing or educational stop.
💡Take advantage of the touch tanks and interactive displays where permitted. These hands-on experiences with starfish and sea urchins, combined with staff who are passionate about marine education, create memorable learning moments beyond typical museum observation.