ODYSSEY MARITIME DISCOVERY CENTER BACKGROUNDER 2205 Alaskan Way, Pier 66 Media Contact: Leigh Barer 206-527-4700; leigh@barercom.com Opened in 1998, Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center (www.ody.org) is the nation’s only contemporary, interactive maritime museum. A must see attraction on Seattle’s central waterfront, features 20,000 square feet of interactive exhibit and meeting space. Odyssey is the West’s only contemporary, interactive maritime museum, celebrating the contemporary links to Puget Sound and the North Pacific through shipping, trade, transportation, commercial fishing, recreation and marine stewardship. Mission: Odyssey’s mission is to enhance awareness, stimulate thinking and generate excitement about human connections to the seas and waterways through a variety of interactive exhibits, activities and educational programs. Vision: Odyssey’s vision is to be recognized worldwide as the premier maritime museum model, the Portal to the Pacific Maritime Experience -- A world class, must see passageway to the waterfront; a high-tech, high-touch museum of discovery that educates and enriches understanding of maritime experiences and economic impacts. A community resource engaging people of all ages: Odyssey is creating a future as a contemporary maritime museum comprised of high-tech and high-touch exhibits and activities suitable for all ages, especially for pre-school through eighth grade students, parents, grandparents and teachers. The appeal of Odyssey as an individual tourist, family and school destination leaves no one behind and it is Odyssey’s intent to attract people of all ages, not once, but time and time again. Through continually changing exhibits that provide new experiences and a sense of wow, Odyssey establishes a social venue for people of all ages, genders, races and ethnic backgrounds to interact and construct meaning of human connections to the seas and waterways in an evolving, enjoyable and educational way. Among the key concepts introduced are: Intermodalism, resource management, international trade, environmental protection, safety at sea, and the importance of ensuring a skilled, competent, and dedicated workforce. Odyssey’s carefully thought out-experience paths and exhibitions provide a one-of-a-kind exploratory trip that invokes multiple senses in a fun, thoughtful, repeatable and refreshable manner. The museum offers meeting facilities to our corporate members and key programs, such as career day for high school students, visiting vessels for all ages, and seminars for educators, business leaders, and members of the general community. Innovation, museum and maritime thought leaders have praised Odyssey for its one-of-a-kind museum model’s innovative and leading-edge approach, which features a collaborative journey versus a one-on-one exhibit experience. Partnering with public and private organizations: Odyssey’s approach teams the museum with public and private organizations, such as the Foss Maritime, Navy League of Seattle, Port of Seattle, Seattle Community Colleges, Seattle Public School District, Totem Ocean Trailer Express, U.S. Navy, University of Washington, Washington State Ferries and Washington Public Ports’ Association. Programming: Odyssey’s programming focuses on the key objectives of teachers, using maritime content to facilitate learning that is fun and interesting for all ages. The museum works with educators to design educational initiatives in-line with accredited standards. Online materials enable pre-visit preparation and post-visit follow-up activities. Interactive programming, seminars, public forums, displays and an annual career fair immerse visitors in the real-world underpinnings of international trade, transportation, fisheries, labor, recreation, safety and security, the marine environment and maritime training academies. Exhibits: Odyssey features 20,000 square feet of more than 40 interactive exhibits, including: Seas of Antiquity: This collection of 40 paintings by award-winning, internationally exhibited Northwest-based artist, writer and lecturer d'Elaine A. Herard Johnson captures the magical suspension of time and otherness through the myths of the sea and all waters. Kayak Journey II: The new interactive Kayak Journey II exhibit features two new kayaks, six new excursions to the San Juan Islands and interpretive elements about the recreational sport. Move It: The newly redesigned, interactive Move It exhibit allows you to slip into the operator’s chair of a ship-to-shore crane, test your ability to load and unload containers and more. Maritime Models Display: Visit the new Maritime Models and see a replica of an American Seafoods Processor, a Victoria Clipper Catamaran, an APL containership and a Nuclear Submarine among others. Honor, Courage, Commitment: A photographic mosaic of 90 images taken by Navy photographers and photojournalists depicts Navy and Marine Corps life of the 553,000 active duty men and women serving the United States during peace and war, as well as the varied components that enable a global presence. The USS Charles E. Trial Navy Bridge (Spruance Class Destroyer): Built with the help of U.S. Naval Station Everett, the bridge deck looks out onto the Puget Sound and features: a ship's helm engine order telegraph console with a ship's wheel, the ship's binnacle and compass, two pelorus stands with gyro compass repeaters, ship's long-distance binoculars (big eyes) and smaller hand-held binoculars, commanding and executive officers' chairs, general quarters battle helmets and storage rack, multiple ship's alarms and lights, sound-powered phones, radar repeater, and the 1MC general announcing communication system. Water at Work: Demonstrates the omnipresent importance of water to the environment and economy, and the trade-offs required when one use is chosen over another. It incorporates flowing water from the headwaters of the Cascades to a functioning dam, working locks, and fish ladder as it journeys to a marina on the Puget Sound. LEGO Ship, a replica of the largest containership in the world, is a 12-foot long model constructed entirely from 74,857 LEGO bricks. The LEGO Company has donated play tables and 12,000 LEGO bricks to Odyssey for visitors to construct ship models and other figures. Tradelines, digital footage of global trade exhibit, provides insight into global commerce. It assists students in understanding the interaction between people, culture and the environment by highlighting key concepts related to international trade and cross-cultural interaction. Top  |  Home  |  Information  |  Exhibits  |  Events Explore  |  Interactive Odyssey  |  Teachers Copyright © 2005  Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center