Whale Museum

The Whale Museum will digitize its archival collection of historic photos, sightings data, and acoustic recordings of a local population of endangered killer whales, and will use the digitized collection to create a new interactive exhibit and maintain this vital reference material. Most of the current collection is in the form of photo negatives and slides, written log books, and acoustic recordings on reel-to-reel and cassette tapes, which are beginning to degrade and require appropriate long-term care. The project will require a three-tiered approach: acquire proper electronic equipment, compare historic data with current observations and recordings to note differences and trends, and convert information into a new, interactive exhibit chronicling the past 40 years of study. The project will help visitors understand the complexity of the fragile killer whale population and motivate them to become better stewards to aid in their recovery.