By Alicia Squillante
Recently the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), located at 4801 E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa, unveiled it’s newest exhibit, Sea Monsters Revealed. The exhibition, which will remain at MOSI until September 2nd of this year, explores the wonders of the oceans and the sea creatures that inhabit its depths in a way that has never been seen before: by bringing the creatures to the surface and showcasing them for the public to see. The exhibit houses over 200 real animals, from a 15-ft. mako shark and six ft. wide manta ray to the rarely seen giant squid and even a 3,000 pound whale shark.
The technique used to preserve the animals is called plastination and is the same technique used to create the Bodies exhibit that MOSI showcased some time before. “MOSI is thrilled to host the world premiere of Sea Monsters Revealed,” said MOSI President, Wit Ostrenko. “We believe that it will set a new standard for traveling exhibitions and has the potential to match the tremendous impact created by the world premiere of Bodies…The Exhibition.”
In much the same way that Bodies explored the human body, Sea Monsters Revealed takes a look at the inner components of the monsters we’ve seen in books and heard about in old sailor’s lore. While at times a bit unnerving for those with less than cast iron stomachs, the collection was nothing short of impressive and absolutely dedicated to the utmost of detail. “I’m not a big fan of anatomy,” said visitor, Clive Martin. “But I was very impressed with the detail and range.”
Many of the displays were interactive, one even allowing you to control an underwater arm. Other displays allowed you to see inside a wide variety of sea creatures such as a giant sunfish, a shark and even a penguin. “We want to inspire people,” said Vice President of Development, Molly Demeulenaere. “We wanted to get kids to ask about science.”
For more information about the exhibit, please visit seamonstersrevealed.com. For more information on MOSI, please visit www.mosi.org or call 987-6000. Tickets for Sea Monsters Revealed are $18.95 for adults, $16.95 for seniors and $12.95 for children ages two to 12. MOSI is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
