Marineland-The World's First Oceanarium
Posted by: 
Markerman62
N 29° 40.135 W 081° 12.794
17R E 479366 N 3282118
Located on FL A1A at the attraction south of St. Augustine.
Waymark Code: WMWZVW
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 11/05/2017
Views: 2
Born from the partnership of W. Douglas Burden, C. V. Whitney, and Count Ilia Tolstoy, Marine Studios opened in 1938. The attraction was designed for filmmakers to shoot underwater footage and give visitors an opportunity to see marine life live and up close. An estimated 20,000 visitors attended the opening of the world’s first oceanarium. During the 1940s, the attraction evolved into one of the world’s leading marine research institutions. In the 1950s, with the help of trainers from the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Marine Studios became the birthplace of dolphin training. Dolphin shows helped elevate the attraction, now called Marineland, to become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Florida. It provided scientists opportunities to study the behavior of dolphins, and led to the discovery of echolocation, also known as biosonar. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, Marineland closed for a complete renovation in 2004. Many buildings were torn down and the attraction was converted into a dolphin conservation center in 2006. Georgia Aquarium purchased and rehabilitated the property in 2011.
Marker Number: F-927
Date: 2016
County: Flagler
Marker Type: Roadside
Sponsored or placed by: The Marineland Dolphin Adventure, Georgia Aquarium, and the Florida Department of State
Website: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
In your log, please say if you learned something new, and if you took any extra time to explore the area once you stopped at the historic marker waymark.
Please post a photo at the marker location.