media
Grand opening events draw thousands!
Sep 29, 2015
MOBILE, AL – The grand opening of GulfQuest, the world’s only museum dedicated to the historical, cultural and economic significance of the Gulf of Mexico, drew thousands of visitors and guests from across the country.
From an invitation-only “soft opening” for the families of all GulfQuest building contractors, employees and board members, to the first weekend of normal operating hours, nearly 3,500 people have come through the doors to experience the Gulf Coast’s newest attraction.
Located on the Mobile River, this hands-on museum is one of the only interactive maritime museums in the United States, and from early feedback, it is introducing some people to the Gulf of Mexico for the first time.
“We had one family here on Saturday from Spokane, Washington,” Tony Zodrow, GulfQuest executive director, said. “They were on vacation in New Orleans and were headed to Atlanta when they read about GulfQuest in a travel magazine. So, their plans changed and they came to GulfQuest! They spent several hours here, and were overwhelmed with all the museum had to offer.”
Over the course of the grand opening events and opening weekend, visitors came from across Alabama, and from Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New York, Washington and Tennessee.
“One of the things we heard over and over, from locals and from out-of-town visitors, was that they had never seen anything like GulfQuest,” Zodrow said. “After many years of hard work, and millions of dollars raised through our capital campaign, it is very gratifying to see people really enjoy the museum.”
Zodrow said he expects the museum will attract visitors from all over the country, given the reception the museum has gotten thus far from travel writers and publications.
“We were contacted yesterday by a freelance travel writer who toured GulfQuest about two weeks ago,” Zodrow said. “Her article on GulfQuest has been picked up by National Geographic (Nat Geo) Traveler for the February/March 2016 issue. That’s a great publication and great national exposure for GulfQuest!”
In addition to being a “Signature Attraction” for the Gulf Coast, GulfQuest is a major educational attraction for Mobile and the state of Alabama.
Tonight, GulfQuest will welcome 400 educators from Mobile and Baldwin counties for an Educators’ Open House. Educators were invited to visit GulfQuest without students in tow so they could experience the museum for themselves before booking their field trips. GulfQuest will host several Educator Open Houses throughout the year, so teachers and administrators who missed this one will have another opportunity in the spring.
“We will begin booking field trips Oct. 1,” Ilka Porter, education director said. “And field trips will begin Oct. 13. We already have 20-30 teachers on our list who want to be called first thing Oct. 1, so we are very excited about that! Students of all ages enjoy the museum, and word of mouth is already spreading. I think we’ll be booked solid for several months!”
“Beyond its focus on the Gulf of Mexico, GulfQuest is unique among maritime museums in that it features interactive exhibits, simulators and theaters, complemented by artifacts and memorabilia,” Zodrow said. “We have taken extra measures, every step of the way, to design an immersive experience for our visitors. The exhibits are both entertaining and educational, and will truly encourage visitors to explore every maritime aspect of the Gulf of Mexico.”
GulfQuest is open Tuesday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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