Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center
Located at 310 Okatie Hwy, Okatie, SC 29909. Between Beaufort and Bluffton, the Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center is an educational and recreational center that promotes conservation of Port Royal Sound. The facility offers a variety of exhibits and programs, including a 3,000 gallon salt water aquarium with live sharks and crabs, touch tanks, and a history wall. The center also hosts programs, such as art shows, story times for children, and speakers series for adults. Read more this article
Founded in 2005, the Port Royal Sound Foundation is dedicated to protecting the natural resources of the Port Royal Sound and Estuary system, and to educating the public about the area’s ecosystem. The organization has formed a number of partnerships with local organizations to help preserve and protect the sound. Currently, the foundation is working on a sustainable business model to help fund the facility and its operations. The goal is to raise $500,000 to $600,000 in annual operating funds. This will be used to pay for the maintenance and operation of the Maritime Center, as well as to support the research and education efforts of the Foundation.
The Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center is the perfect place for a family outing in the Lowcountry. The museum, aquarium, and touch tanks are a great way for kids to learn about the ecosystem of the Sound. The center features a Predator Diorama that hangs from the ceiling of the main exhibit hall. In addition, visitors can explore saltwater aquarium touch tables that feature animals such as rays, crabs, and more.
The center’s programs include kayaking trips, fly fishing, birding, and other activities that help teach visitors about the Port Royal Sound and its inhabitants. The center also provides a variety of informative lectures, including monthly meetings. These events give visitors a look into the history of the port and the local seafood industry.
The Maritime Center was named in honor of Dick and Sharon Stewart, who donated land and a building to the Foundation. Stewart is a Beaufort businessman and fellow Foundation board member. He also contributes $100,000 toward the Foundation’s research efforts.
Port Royal Sound is home to 16 species of sharks, including a 16-foot, 3,400-pound great white shark named Mary Lee. The great white was tagged in Cape Cod and has been spotted visiting the waters of the Port Royal Sound. Another species of shark, the spiny dogfish, is known for its gestation period, which can take up to two years. Continue reading about Harper Fowlkes House
In addition to the aquarium, the Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center has a variety of exhibits on sharks, fish, and other creatures of the Port Royal Sound. The Predator Diorama and the Megalodon Jaw Model provide a closer look at prehistoric animals. The aquarium, which is situated at a height that is ideal for younger children, features a 3,000-gallon saltwater tank. Browse next article
Visitors to the Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center will find a diverse ecosystem that is rich in natural resources. Despite its pristine beauty, the Port Royal Sound Area is threatened by stormwater runoff and a chemical plant. The Foundation is committed to preserving the sound and its environment and is working on a sustainable business model that will ensure a healthy future for the Maritime Center.