Ocean adventures begin at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s Discovery Center

WHOI launches summer season with new exhibits and programs

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Woods Hole, Mass. (May 28, 2026) – Curious minds are welcome as Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) splashes into summer science with new, interactive exhibits and experiences for the entire family.

“Summer on Cape Cod is very special, and we are excited to welcome guests to WHOI’s Discovery Center,” said Colin Reed, WHOI’s Director of Community Engagement. “This summer season, we have several new exhibits along with updated favorites. There is truly something for everyone.”

New Discovery Center exhibit! "Historic Wrecks and Ghost Gear"

A new exhibit brings shipwreck ecosystems to life through touch, sound, and interactive experiences, offering visitors new ways to explore ocean science and the impacts of marine debris. Developed in collaboration with Sound Explorations, the exhibit gives the senses of touch and sound starring roles in communicating important marine science and ocean stewardship.

Shipwrecks provide habitats for varied species of marine animals, creating hotspots of biodiversity. Wrecks also provide insights into Massachusetts’ maritime history and are important memorials to the lives lost at sea.

By studying the early life stages of invertebrates, including where larvae travel and settle, WHOI biologists can better understand how these underwater communities form and change over time. Lost or abandoned fishing nets, or ghost gear, on shipwrecks can devastate the biological community and destroy sections of historically important ships.

This new exhibit invites guests to learn more about how the unique organisms that colonize wrecks and the technology under development at WHOI to facilitate the safe removal of ghost gear from shipwrecks.

Importantly, the exhibit encourages visitors to interact with it through multiple senses, making it fun and accessible for the blind and low vision community. Features include sculpted (touchable) organisms on a model shipwreck with sensors that play music representing the different organisms that colonize shipwrecks. A tactile tide sculpture lets visitors feel how fast water moves at different tide stages and a video game inspired by the ResQ ROV invites visitors to plan and run their own ghost gear removal mission.

The 40^th Anniversary of Alvin’s Visit to the RMS Titanic

In July 1986, the human-occupied submersible Alvin visited the wreck of the Titanic, marking the first time humans set eyes on the ship since its sinking in 1912. The return of Alvin to the wreck site took place one year after the discovery of the Titanic by WHOI and its partner, IFREMER.

WHOI's updated Titanic exhibit chronicles the 1985 discovery of the RMS Titanic wreck, the groundbreaking deep ocean technology that captured the first images of the sunken ship almost two miles below the surface, and Alvin captured footage the following year. Visitors can also see the original titanium Alvin personnel sphere that carried pilots and scientists on deep-sea missions, including the first human visit to the Titanic wreck, in the village of Woods Hole in front of the Redfield Laboratory on Water Street. Designed for extreme depths, it withstood immense ocean pressure and symbolizes groundbreaking ocean exploration and engineering achievement.

Ocean Twilight Zone Interactive Exhibit

The Twilight Zone: Sensing the Ocean is a walk-through experience spotlighting the beauty and mystery of the ocean twilight zone’s creatures, revealing the weird and wonderful life forms hidden in its depths while underscoring their vital role in our planet’s health. By blending scientific research with interactive artistic expression, the installation demonstrates science as a “superpower” that unlocks hidden wonders, fostering a deeper understanding of our ocean. Visitors can follow along as the ocean robot Mesobot tracks and observes deep-sea life.

The exhibition was created by ARTECHOUSE Studio, in collaboration with WHOI, and was originally presented in Washington, D.C. A traveling exhibit will open this year in Houston.

Sharks!

WHOI's updated shark research exhibit at the Discovery Center offers an engaging glimpse into the lives of sharks. Through an interactive display, visitors can explore the cutting-edge technology used to study and tag sharks and see what a real shark bite looks like on one of WHOI's robots!

The Ocean Science Discovery Center is open daily, 11 am-5 pm, from May 23 until September 6. Fall hours are from 11 am to 4 pm, Monday through Saturday, until October 31.

Village Tours

In June, July, August, September, and October, knowledgeable WHOI volunteers guide visitors on walking tours through the WHOI dock area and other restricted village facilities. Launching from the WHOI Store at 93 Water Street in the center of Woods Hole village, the tours take approximately one hour and fifteen minutes and provide background on the research conducted at WHOI and on the history of the Institution.

Dates and times:

• June, September, and October, tours are available on Thursdays and Fridays at 11:15 a.m.
• July and August, tours are available Monday–Friday at 10:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.
• Reservations are required as space is limited. Please visit www.whoi.edu/tours to reserve your spot. Call (508) 289-2252 or email information@whoi.edu for more information. Tours are recommended for teenagers to adult audiences.
• Pricing: $5 per person, ages 12+. Children up to age 12 are free.

Climate Walking Tour

Explore Woods Hole Village through the lens of climate change and learn more about the climate impacts in Woods Hole. This self-guided walking trail guides visitors through 13 stops around the Village, with each physical location marked by a waypoint. Each stop highlights a brief history of Woods Hole, climate change projections, adaptation solution charts, current and historic images, and video interviews of Resilient Woods Hole leaders and community members.

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About Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a private, non-profit organization on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, dedicated to marine research, engineering, and higher education. Established in 1930, its primary mission is to understand the ocean and its interaction with the Earth as a whole, and to communicate an understanding of the ocean’s role in the changing global environment. Top scientists, engineers, and students collaborate on more than 800 concurrent projects worldwide—both above and below the waves—pushing the boundaries of knowledge and possibility.