Port Townsend Marine Science Center

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center was founded in 1982 by two teachers, Judy D’Amore and Libby Palmer, and was initially run entirely by volunteers. Over the years the science center has grown in a steady, thoughtful manner, and its volunteers, now numbering more than 100, are still integrally involved in the organization.

As it has grown, PTMSC has remained a friendly and accessible place for both visitors and community members alike, always staying true to its mission of empowering conservation for a thriving Salish Sea.

Over 20,000 people every year are inspired by live marine animals and an orca skeleton in the Museum at Fort Worden State Park, and rotating exhibits in the Gallery downtown.

Thousands more participate in school programs, summer camps, low-tide walks, a lecture series, wildlife cruises, and sustainability workshops.

Over 100 volunteers participate in a variety of roles, including important citizen science projects.