Wildlife museum launches charter membership drive

Wonders of Wildlife, The American National Fish and Wildlife Museum now under construction in Springfield, will launch a charter membership campaign Tuesday, March 20. The event will take place 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the facility's construction site at 500 W. Sunshine St.

Individuals who wish to become charter members will be able to sign a "Declaration of Conservation" scroll that will be placed into a time capsule. Refreshments will be served by Nearly Famous Deli and Pasta House.

Funded by $52 million provided by bonds, a tourism tax and private donations, the museum is scheduled to open Nov. 1. Plans are for the 91,000-square-foot attraction to house 160 species of live creatures, including bobcat, wild turkey, pheasant and quail. A 220,000-gallon tank will hold sharks and other saltwater fish, and a 150,000-gallon tank will hold different species of freshwater fish.

Vickie Hicks, public relations/development coordinator for the museum, said, "We'd like to be known as the Smithsonian of the outdoors. We want to make Springfield an attraction in itself, not just a place people come to visit on their way to Branson. Our goal is to have a million visitors in our first year."

The facility is being built on land donated by sportsman-conservationist-developer Johnny Morris, owner of Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World.