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New Interactive Exhibits Keep Hands and Minds Busy at the Science Center

Staff Report From Georgia CEO

Wednesday, June 17th, 2026

Summer’s here along with a slew of new exhibits at the Tybee Island Marine Science Center! 
Designed to complement the center’s live animal displays, the new stations combine artistry, education, and plenty of human interaction for all ages.

Spread out across TIMSC’s 10,000 square-foot campus, these freshly-installed innovations include:

  • Coastal Cultures (East Gallery): Explore medicinal plants, oyster farming, and other ways the historic Gullah Geechee people harnessed our unique coastal ecology to thrive. Check out the kitchen spice cabinet and draw along with artist Mya Timmons!

  • Marine Ecology Murals (Open-Air Classroom): Examine four scientifically accurate tiled panels depicting the flora and fauna of the Maritime Forest, Sand Dunes, Salt Marsh and Gray’s Reef. Exquisitely crafted by artists Polly Cooper and Joy Davis, the textured murals are meant to be viewed from far away and up-close as well as touched.
  • Marine Debris Tubes (East Gallery): Gawk at collections of plastic garbage and cigarette butts collected by our friends at Clean Beach Tybee. One person’s trash is our inspiration to keep our beaches beautiful!
  • Knot Tying Station (Amphitheater): Learn basic knots to keep a ship moored and bags sealed along with the basic physics of simple machinery. This display features the yard arm from the sunken ship Barba Negra and highlights coastal Georgia’s rich maritime history.

  • Shark Tooth Central (Fossil Room): Imagine just how massive the jaws were that contained our new collection of fossilized shark teeth! Donated by longtime center supporter Julia Bremer, this is where to learn the difference between megalodons and makos.

“What’s important about these new exhibits is the way they bring science and culture together,” explains TIMSC Executive Director Chantal Audran.
 
“We’re not just sharing information about our local ecosystems, we’re investigating the interconnectedness between humans and nature. It’s a whole uplevel of what we do here.”
 
The science center is open all summer 9:30am-5pm every day except Tuesday. All of the new exhibits are appropriate for all ages and included in center admission. 

For more information or to schedule a tour, please contact Jessica Leigh Lebos at [email protected]

For more information, visit tybeemarinescience.org.