Bears fishing in a salmon stream are one of the new exhibits in the Kodiak Visitor Center.

Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge put out the welcome mat in downtown Kodiak Saturday November 17^th 2007, as they celebrated the opening of the Kodiak Refuge Visitor Center. Kodiakans from across the community turned out on this crisp autumn morning to hear keynote remarks by Thomas O. Melius, Alaska Regional Director, and Charles Money, Executive Director of the Alaska Natural History Association (ANHA).

This day-long educational event featured public talks on Kodiak conservation issues, children's activities, book signings and showcased our new film produced by NCTC: Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge: Home of the Great Kodiak Bear. More than 1,000 visitors passed through this 7,000 square foot facility during opening day, enjoying the new exhibit hall—themed An Island Oasis for Bears, a 37-foot gray whale skeleton salvaged from a Kodiak beach and rearticulated by local volunteers, the new relief map of Kodiak Archipelago and the unveiling of ANHA’s new bookstore.

Almost a decade of planning has culminated in this beautiful new building and the staff of Kodiak Refuge are proud to welcome all to what’s billed as the “Crossroads of Conservation and Education” for this historic refuge established in 1941. The center is open year-round, with winter hours from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. The summer season will begin Memorial Day, with extended hours from 10:00 am to 6 pm, open daily. More information about the refuge visitor center is available on-line at www.kodiakwildliferefuge.org.