THE ALASKA SEALIFE CENTER - SEWARD, ALASKA

Yesterday I wrote about the murals but I learned something new today about them.  Seward was named the "Mural Capital of Alaska" in 2008 by Gov. Sarah Palin at the completion of the town's 12th colorful mural.  The murals are designed by local artists and the design is projected on to sheets of Alumalite and traced with pens, then each outlined shape is assigned a number corresponding to a paint color.  Members of the Seward Mural Society and volunteers fill in the colors.

This mural was on the new library/museum where we watched a movie about the 1964 earthquake that destroyed the city and the museum had thousands of objects representing the history of Seward

Today a cruise ship arrived and we could see it from our picture window.

Resurrection Bay is over 900 feet deep making it easy for cruise ships of this size to dock

We biked to the Alaska SeaLife Center and used our Alaskan Tour Saver coupon for a buy one get one free ticket.  The Center is a non-profit, world-class, cold water marine research facility that opened to the public in May of 1998.  Capital funding for the $56-million facility was made possible through the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Settlement, the City of Seward revenue bonds and private/corporate fundraising.  It is a rescue and rehabilitation center situated on the shores of Resurrection Bay and was very impressive.

Harbor Seals

Random Fish

Stellar Sea Lion - 600 pounds and growing up to a ton

Another picture window view

I thought the Puffin was in the duck family but learned that it is an Alcid (family of diving seabirds that can "fly" under water as well as in the air) - The tufted puffin is too cool

I was tired after our day but managed to throw together pan fried salmon with scallops, brussel sprouts, zucchini and a baked potato for dinner.

That's all folks!  Thanks for stopping in.