Why such fuss over a refuge visitor center? It is drop-dead gorgeous with hundreds of thousands of dollars of marine-themed art work; it commands a stunning coastal site with trails through varied habitats; it tells in a very entertaining way the multi-faceted story of one of America's most unique refuges; and its riveting feature film on the Refuge's research vessel, Journey of the Tiglax, was a finalist at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. Islands and Ocean is shared with the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve, a unit of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. It offers adaptable spaces to support a variety of uses beyond casual visitation ? environmental education including class lab work, trainings, workshops and agency meetings of all sizes, themed events and art shows.

Visitors are wowed by the enticing design which leads them into the off-shore world of this island refuge. A seabird room surrounds visitors with the sights, sounds, and even smells of a large colony. The unusual human history of the refuge which includes the Russian voyages of discovery, some of the earliest land set-asides for wildlife purposes, World War II battles, bases and bombings, and even nuclear testing add an intriguing dimension. Befitting the maritime theme, boats are evident throughout the center: a restored Refuge wooden dory, a recreated Aleut kayak, an inflatable, and replicas of the refuge's 120-foot ship, M/V Tiglax, convey a sense of journey and reinforce the island concept. Exhibit designers Aldrich/Pears of Vancouver, Canada did an outstanding job in meeting our objective of bringing this remote, lightly visited refuge to the people.

Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center has taken the refuge and the Service to a higher level in visitor services, outreach and visibility in Alaska. To learn more about the center, visit our website, www.islandsandocean.org.