After a new construction project of more than $20 million, Port Wonder Children’s Museum and Nature Center has officially opened to the public.

The museum-nature center hybrid facility offers both STEM-based, hands-on, interactive learning for children, as well as an immersive, live-animal experience on the Louisiana coast.

The Children’s Museum and Nature & Science Center occupy separate wings on either side of the facility, with an undulating roofline that converges to form a shared lobby. The building’s contoured, curvilinear form is inspired by the winding waterways of Southwest Louisiana that culminate at Lake Charles, paying homage to the destination.

The 1,393-m² (15,000-sf) museum features four interactive galleries: Nature, Health, Tech, and City. Across the lobby, the 529-m² (5,700-sf) nature and science center offers fresh and saltwater displays, including a marsh tank and barrier island fish tanks, a touch tank with stingrays, and a major Gulf aquarium showcasing the destination’s native aquatic species.

As one walks through the space, the gallery spaces increase in height, creating greater volumes for signature exhibits. Large windows to the north and south connect the interior to walking trails and a covered fishing pier along the lake.

The center’s interactive exhibits showcase key initiatives of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, such as coastal restoration, fisheries management, and the innovative Rigs to Reefs Program.

The hybrid facility has paved the way for a larger lakefront development effort in Downtown Lake Charles. Its design enhances the new center’s visibility and accessibility and promotes opportunities for the public to play and learn about Louisiana’s rich natural heritage.