Welcome to the Hatfield Visitor Center!

We are now operating on our regular season schedule and are open Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m. -  4 p.m. Tickets ($5 for ages five and up) are available online and at the door.

We will be open Dec. 26-31 (even on Tues/Wed) this holiday season. We will be closed on Christmas and New Year's Day.

 Buy a Ticket

Information for Visiting Groups

  • Pre K-12 and University Precollege Student Groups
    • Visitor Center Only - Cost is $5 per person, please pre-register your group here.  
    • Visitor Center + Lab and Field Experience - All K-12 and Precollege student groups that add a marine education lab and field experience to their visit receive complimentary time in the visitor center. 
  • University and Community Groups (i.e. Road Scholars, Scout Groups, family groups) please buy a ticket here.
    • If any group is interested in adding a class to their visit, please visit our Marine Education Program's lab and field experiences page to view the current class offerings. All registrations for lab and field classes AND visitor center exploration can be submitted together through their online registration system listed on their page.

Snap Shots from the VISITOR CENTER

Introducing Calming Creatures Videos

Enjoy this video of giant acorn barnacles performing their feathery dance at the Hatfield Visitor Center. Who knew barnacles could be so fascinating? These creatures are found throughout the West Coast on rocks, pier pilings and hard-shelled animals at depths of up to 90 meters. We will be making more Calming Creatures videos and posting them here for you to enjoy.

OCTOPUS UPDATE

We currently do not have a giant Pacific octopus on exhibit. In the meantime, we have a wolf eel in the main tank. The wolf eel is not an eel. This is a common misnomer given its long, slender body and misleading common name. Despite their fierce appearance, wolf eels living in areas frequented by divers can become “tamed” and regularly interact with humans.
 
While we wait for a new octopus, enjoy this close-up look at past octopus on exhibit. This video has fascinating footage of the octopus and interesting facts about these amazing creatures.

And if you want to learn a little more about how this video was shot, check out this short. The octopus had a hand(s) in filming it.


Regional Class Research Vessel

This interactive simulator let's you experience what it feels like to be at the helm of a large research vessel and steer it through Yaquina Bay. 


Oregon Coast Crustaceans

This exhibit showcases crustaceans found along the Oregon coast. By displaying these animals in smaller interconnected tanks, it is possible to keep more than one species in harmony.

 

More Exhibits


Tide Pool Touch Tank

Gently pet fish, abalone and sea stars. Discover what happens when you stroke the sticky tentacles of a sea anemone. Friendly volunteers are on hand to answer questions and help visitors of all ages. Feeding time in the tidepool tanks - Fridays, at 11 a.m.

How many pipefish can you find?

Look closely as the camera pans through the eelgrass and see how many pipefish you can find. The video pans through the eelgrass a second time and shows you where these fish are hiding out.

Pipefish can be found around wharves, floating freely in tide lines, or camouflaging themselves in eelgrass beds and patches of seaweed in bays and estuaries. Fun fact: The female pipefish transfers eggs to the male's brood pouch, where he cares for developing young. Pipefish and seahorses belong to the same family, which is why their little faces are so similar.

Hours

Regular Season Hours (beginning Labor Day): Thursday through Monday 10 a.m. -  4 p.m.
Buy a ticket online before you visit.

Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day

Location

Hatfield Marine Science Center Visitor Center
2030 SE Marine Science Drive
Newport, OR  97365-5229

Phone: 541-867-0100; Option 2
Email

Map and Driving Directions

Click on "More Options" to get directions from your location.