AN AUTHENTIC SHIPWRECK sits on the ocean floor at the Wonders of Wildlife Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri, providing realistic habitat for 35,000 fish and other sea creatures. (Photo by John Jefferson, taken before stocking was completed)

by John Jefferson

You’ve probably heard of the “Seven Wonders of the World.” What I’m gonna tell you about ranks on my list of the “Seven Wonders of the WILDLIFE World” — right alongside hunting in Africa, fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and its bays, stalking bighorn rams in the Rockies, quail hunting in the Rolling Plains and South Texas, fishing in Canada, Argentine dove hunting, Texas bass fishing, and seeing the sunrise from a deer blind on a frosty November morning anywhere in Texas.

Ok, so I can’t count! But it’s hard narrowing a list of your favorite things.

Since it’s summer vacation travel season, though, this is something you’ll want to put on your list. It’s called “Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium.” Located in Springfield, Missouri, it’s the brainchild of Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops, fabled outdoorsman-conservationist, and a guy with an unparalleled passion for creating unique ways to entice sportsmen. If you’ve ever been in a Bass Pro Shops, you know what I mean. He’s outdone himself with this one, too.

It’s a beautifully themed 315,000-square-foot fish and wildlife educational experience unlike anything in the world. In case you suspect literary license and a propensity for exaggeration in that last sentence, take note of the fact that USA Today’s readers selected Wonders of Wildlife as “America’s Number One Best New Attraction” in 2017. It’s larger than the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. It neighbors the world’s largest Bas Pro Shops in Springfield, and between the two, they have become Missouri’s most popular tourist destination — topping Dolly Parton’s Stampede in Branson!

So, what’s to see?

The new aquarium and Fishing Heritage Hall take about two hours to see but it is totally worth that time, the aquarium has the best equipment, is one of the best ones in the area,  click here to learn more. The aquarium holds 1.5 million- gallons of water and is home to 35,000 live fish, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, including sharks, jellies, rays, eels, and many more. The Heritage Hall celebrates fishing around the world, and has boats used by Ernest Hemingway, Jimmy Buffet, Zane Grey, and others. If those boats could only talk!

The Hunting Heritage Hall displays lifelike dioramas in re-created natural settings including hand-painted mural backgrounds, foliage, waterfalls, lighting, sound, wind and temperature settings that put visitors into the habitat. Additionally, the largest collection of trophy white-tailed buck deer in the world and an assemblage of sheep specimens from around the world are on display.

The Boone and Crockett Club, founded by Theodore Roosevelt to draw support for wildlife conservation, has relocated its collection of over 40 significant North American big game mammals to Wonders of Wildlife. Roosevelt’s efforts launched the conservation movement in America.

Of utmost importance to hunting’s heritage, the NRA has moved its National Sporting Arms Museum to Wonders of Wildlife to illustrate the history of firearms evolution from Colonial times to the present. Many historic pieces take visitors through an intriguing journey.

The Museum and Aquarium are open every day from 10:00-8:00. Combo tickets for wildlife galleries and aquarium are $39.95 for adults; $23.95 for kids under 12.

http://www.wondersofwildlife.org/tickets.

JJ