When Fort Bragg’s last timber mill shut down in 2002, the community of Fort Bragg gained access to nearly four miles of coastline that had been behind a locked gate for more than a century. In response to community aspirations, the City of Fort Bragg acquired and designated 12 acres of the former mill site for the express purpose of building a world class marine science center. Unlike its neighbors to the south in the Bay Area and to the north in Humboldt, the Mendocino Coast lacks established institutions and facilities from which to conduct meaningful marine science research and education.

The future Ocean Science Center will create a physical space for researchers, students, families and visitors to explore the Mendocino coast and investigate the dynamic relationship between humans and the natural world.

Project Goals

• Reconnect the City of Fort Bragg to the coast, fostering a deep sense of local pride
• Serve as a crucial community asset to and a critical part of the blue economy
• Establish a community asset dedicated to ocean health and coastal resilience
• Foster scientific inquiry and educational initiatives to address coastal challenges, such as sea level rise, kelp forest crisis, ocean plastics, and the protection of marine mammals
• Explore and highlight the unique features of the North Coast to visitors and researchers alike

While the OSC will have a marked impact on marine science research and education in this region, it also provides an unparalleled opportunity for the local community.  The creation of the OSC offers one of the most meaningful economic impact opportunities the City has seen in more than 40 years through the creation of new jobs and tourism dollars entering our community. The OSC will include:

• Research laboratories, whale workshop, and a marine mammal triage center
• Educational exhibits and museum exhibits including an aquarium, tidal exhibits, a 73-foot articulated blue whale skeleton and a virtual reality underwater experience
• Community amenities such as a lecture hall, classroom/maker space, a café, and outdoor recreational and educational space
• Restoration of the formerly industrial mill site parcel with vibrant coastal habitats and connections to the California Coastal Trail and 90 acres of coastal parkland
• Blue economy incubator
• A net-zero energy campus designed to showcase innovations in sustainable development and coastal resiliency