Always a family favorite for those who love history, science, and animals—the IMAG History & Science Center is excited to announce its newest attraction with the installation of the StingRay Bay Touch Tank. The tank is a whopping fourteen by forty-eight feet and home to cownose stingrays, yellow stingrays, and other sea life. It’s an exciting experience for guests to touch and feed the stingrays safely.  

“The cownose stingrays particularly enjoy human contact and interactions as they readily swim up to guests and encourage their wings to be petted and touched.,” explains Marketing Manager Richard Smith. There are three windows positioned below the water level, which provide a unique and different perspective of sea life.  Plus, one can view a live, 24-hour cam online at IMAG.org. 

“We’re thrilled to present this new hands-on activity at the IMAG,” says Matt Johnson, Executive Director of IMAG History & Science Center.   

Along with the StingRay Bay Touch Tank, other new and fascinating exhibits include the Magnificent Mangroves of Southwest Florida, which surrounds the StingRay Bay Touch Tank, Calusa: The Shell Indians of Southwest Florida, Paleo Florida, Alligator Aquariums, and Backyard Florida. Other highlights include a 3200-gallon aquarium that Animal Planet’s Tanked built. The aquarium houses tropical fish and a replica of the USS Mohawk. Outside, guests can enjoy the Fish-Eye Lagoon with migrating birds, geese, and ducks, and aquatic marine life. The young ones love to feed the Japanese koi, carp, bluegill, catfish, and variety of turtles who call the lagoon home. 

There are more than 60 interactive attractions and exhibits to keep the little ones occupied for hours. Plus, they’ll enjoy a 3D theater with daily movie showings, and IMAG LIVE! These LIVE exciting shows are performed twice a day and explain the mysteries of science. For a live TV studio simulation, there’s a green screen so children can star at their own weather forecast. Lastly, there’s live demonstrations and presentations of local and exotic wildlife. A visit is a great way for them to learn in a hands-on, informal learning environment. Check the website for events, admission, and hours. 

Plan Your Visit: IMAG History & Science Center, 2000 Cranford Ave., Fort Myers, 239-243-0043, theimage.org.