Manatee Observation and Education Center

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

The Manatee Center is a 2,000 square-foot environmental education center that contains saltwater aquaria, a touch tank, interactive displays, and other interactive living and non-living exhibits. It lies just west of the Atlantic Ocean and straddles the nationally recognized Indian River Lagoon, a saltwater estuary, and Moore’s Creek, a freshwater tributary. The site is a historical congregating place for Florida manatees as a result of warm water effluence from the long-retired Henry B. King Power Plant. While the plant is no longer there, it continues to be a congregating place for manatees and visitors alike.

Outside, you can explore our Observation Walkway and our two-story Observation Tower. In addition to the walkway and tower, you can explore our butterfly garden, outdoor signage, pond (where we are currently growing seagrasses), and try to measure up to the size of a manatee! There is also an outdoor classroom, four public boat ramps and a fishing pier behind the center.

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