Discovery Center
Olympic Coast Discovery Center, located on the Port Angeles waterfront, is a great place to begin your learning adventures.
Visitor Information
Plan your trip to Neah Bay, La Push, Kalaloch, or other coastal destinations. Trained Discovery Center staff and dedicated volunteers will provide detailed information on where to hike, where to see whales, the best views, or secluded beaches.
Marine Conservation
Find out what makes national marine sanctuaries so important in our efforts to protect the ocean, marine ecosystems, and marine wildlife. Since each national marine sanctuary is a unique world of its own, discover what makes the Olympic Coast so important. You'll encounter its marine mammals, seabirds, and its habitats, ranging from tidepools to deep-sea canyons.
Science and Exploration
In order to protect, we must understand. Ocean scientists use cutting edge technology and tools to visit the ocean floor and understand the sea's mysterious workings. Learn about the history of exploration of the Olympic Coast and the many tools that researchers use to understand the underwater landscapes, living communities and ocean processes that make Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary the ecological treasure it is.
Maritime Heritage
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary occupies a maritime cultural landscape that has supported humans since time immemorial. Stories, songs, place-names, maps, histories, and the remnant traces—ancient villages, shipwrecks, lighthouses—persist as reminders of the many human connections to this corner of the ocean. Today, fishing, transportation, and recreation are central to the region's wealth.
Visit the Olympic Coast Discovery Center first, then launch your own journey of discovery to the wild and bountiful Olympic Coast.
Olympic Coast Discovery Center
NOAA's Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
The Wharf
115 East Railroad, Second Floor
Port Angeles, WA, 98362
FREE OF CHARGE!
Open seasonally 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. (open daily during July 1 - September 30 and weekends only during Memorial Day, June, and first weekend in October)
Volunteers needed!
Do you love the ocean and learning more about our local marine environment and cultural heritage? Do you enjoy meeting new people and sharing information about our home on the Olympic Peninsula? If so, NOAA's Olympic Coast Discovery Center is the place for you!
Come join the fun and sign up to be a volunteer docent with us!
To schedule a tour in the off-season, please make an appointment in advance: call 360-406-2079 or email Chris Butler-Minor.