Wonders of Wildlife to open in autumn of 2001

Wonders of Wildlife - the American National Fish and Wildlife Museum, now under construction at the corner of Campbell and Sunshine, is scheduled to open in the fall of 2001, according to Gary Ellison, director of public relations for the museum.

Work on the project is on time and within budget, according to Bruce Colony, director of museum operations and maintenance.

The 124 foundation piers, built to withstand the weight of the giant aquariums to be housed in the museum, are now in place, and work has begun on the saltwater tanks at the basement level. The rebar for the tanks must be epoxy-coated to prevent rust and corrosion, Colony said.

Wonders of Wildlife will hold 500,000 gallons of water weighing approximately 4 million pounds, according to an information bulletin from the museum.

Concrete has been poured for the lobby and mezzanine levels, and framework for the building has begun, Colony said.

The structure will contain 92,000 square feet of floor space, with 65,000 square feet designated for the exhibitions, Ellison said.

The architectural firm Cambridge Seven Associates of Boston designed the structure, with Turner Construction acting as construction manager. Working from its Kansas City office, Turner has hired mostly local workers and subcontractors for the various phases of construction.

According to Colony, 76 percent of the contracts on the building will stay in the Springfield area. Of the $22.3 million in contracts approved to date, $17 million will remain local, he said.

When completed, the museum will contain 25 aquarium tanks, both saltwater and freshwater, along with a lake, running stream, woods with both real and artificial trees and other flora, and caves and bluffs depicting the natural Ozarks terrain.

Colony said that 160 species of live animals will be represented, including everything from snakes, fish and lizards, to birds and mammals, primarily North American species.

Funding for the project comes from the state of Missouri, Department of Conservation, the Springfield hotel/motel tax and private donations, according to Ellison. There is also a $1.5 million federal grant, secured through the efforts of Sen. Kit Bond, Ellison said.

The single largest private contributor is the John Morris family, which has given more than $11 million in land, taxidermy and artifacts to the museum.

Besides the exhibits, the building will include a banquet room large enough to accommodate a catered meal for 150 guests. Other smaller meeting rooms will also be available for rent by businesses and organizations for luncheon meetings and classes.

The museum will maintain an education department with curricula for many different types of programs. Museum personnel will work with local schools to tie in programs for field trips to the facility, Ellison said.

Fees for the museum will be $11 per person for adults and $7 for children ages 5-12. Group discounts will be available and season passes will be offered for local residents, Ellison said.

The museum expects to operate with 80 paid employees, plus several hundred volunteers, Ellison said. Divers will be among the volunteers and will have to be specially trained, he added. Applications will be available and hiring will begin next spring.

Museum hours are yet to be determined, but Ellison said he expects the facility to be open longer hours during the summer tourist seasons.

Ellison will continue to act as public relations director and Colony plans to continue to oversee operations and maintenance after the museum is up and running.