Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Marine research facility in Dauphin Island, Alabama.
Dauphin Island Sea Lab is a marine research center on an island off the Alabama coast. The exhibition hall displays sea creatures from Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, including rays, sharks, and other species found in the local waters.
The site was established in 1971 on former military grounds that once housed a radar station. The transformation from a military facility to a research and education center shows how the land found a new purpose.
The lab serves as a place where visitors can encounter the creatures living in local waters and learn about the diversity found in the bay. People come here to connect with marine biology and understand why protecting these habitats matters to the region.
The center is located on the island and is open to visitors throughout the year. It is easy to find and offers exhibits where you can observe various sea creatures up close.
The focus includes native rays and skates displayed in special tanks where visitors are allowed to touch them. This hands-on experience lets people feel the animals and experience their skin and movements directly.
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