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Children's Museums

Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center

Name: Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center
Address: 2030 SE Marine Science Dr, Newport, OR 97365, Newport, OR, US
Telephone: (541) 867-0100
Rating: 4.8

★★★★☆ 4.8 (719 reviews)

📍 2030 SE Marine Science Dr, Newport, OR 97365

📞 (541) 867-0100

🌐 seagrant.oregonstate.edu/visitor-center

Visit Website 📍 Get Directions

🕐 Hours

Monday	10 AM–4 PM
Tuesday	Closed
Wednesday	Closed
Thursday	10 AM–4 PM
Friday	10 AM–4 PM
Saturday	10 AM–4 PM
Sunday	10 AM–4 PM

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About Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center

Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center is a children's museum in Newport, OR. Features an OctoCam exhibit with a new octopus tank that requires visitor restraint to avoid interrupting the acclimation process, indicating active marine animal care and research operations. Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars by 719 visitors.

Quick Facts

Type: Science Center
Best For: All ages
Highlights: Touch tanks, marine skeleton collection, interactive vessel simulator, tidepool exploration
Admission: $5 per person (ages 5+)
Hours: Thursday-Monday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (regular season)

💡 Did You Know?

⭐Features an OctoCam exhibit with a new octopus tank that requires visitor restraint to avoid interrupting the acclimation process, indicating active marine animal care and research operations
⭐Houses a comprehensive Marine Mammal Skeleton Collection including specimens from California Sea Lion, Gray Whale Calf, Harbor Porpoise, Northern Elephant Seal, Pacific White-Sided Dolphin, and Sperm Whale Calf
⭐Offers hands-on educational programs including Squid Dissection, Rocky Intertidal Ecology, Estuary Investigations, Plankton Lab, and ROV Design Challenge, indicating advanced STEM curriculum integration
⭐Operates interactive exhibits including a Tsunami Wave Tank and Regional Class Research Vessel simulator, providing experiential learning about coastal marine processes and oceanographic research
⭐Maintains touchpool exhibits with live sea cucumbers, urchins, sea stars, and sea anemones, staffed by friendly volunteers for educational engagement

💬 What Visitors Say

💡Don't lift the curtains on the new octopus tank - the animal is acclimating, and interrupting this process can stress it. Observe from the designated viewing area instead.
💡Attend Touchpool Talks on Saturdays at 11 a.m. for guided interactions with touch tank creatures like sea cucumbers, urchins, and sea stars. Friendly volunteers are available to answer questions and enhance the educational experience.
💬At $5 per person (ages 5+), this is an excellent rainy day activity and budget-friendly rest stop along the Pacific Coast Highway. It's easy to confuse with the commercial aquarium next door - this is the smaller, hands-on science center.
💬Plan 1-2 hours for your visit to experience the interactive exhibits including touch tanks, tsunami workstations, wave makers, and the fog simulator. The venue is perfectly sized for families with young children who may get overwhelmed at larger attractions.
💡The touch tanks and hands-on stations are excellent for all ages, from little kids through teens. Even older children enjoy the interactive wave makers, marine skeleton displays, and hands-on learning stations.