Tucked in Ocean Shores is the Coastal Interpretive Center - there's parking out front and a couple cute spots for pics and to check out pieces of shipwrecks around the building. Admission is $5 ($10 for a family) which sort of appears steep when you drive up but we were really pleasantly surprised by how informative and entertaining the Center is. Kids (1,6,7) enjoyed the taxidermied animals, the kids area, and some of the educational exhibits. Adults liked the exhibits and just wandering around. We lasted here a little over an hour, and I thought the stop was well worth it on our cloudy and wet morning. read more

11/10 stars if I could. Very family and young kid friendly. The staff was so welcoming, explained each exhibit to us, and shared their revamp story. During the Covid Shutdown, they redid and expanded making their center bigger, fun for all ages, and add lots of historical references. Really amazing to walk through, learn about ocean shores, the indigenous tribes of this area, &and the animals of course. My 1 year old son had a ball and didn't want to leave. Extremely affordable too ($10 for 3 adults). Very clean and kept great. read more

See all

A jewel of Ocean Shores!!! Fun activities for kids and adults. Lots of history and hands on. Staff is always friendly and helpful. If you live in Ocean Shores or are visiting The Interpretive Center is a must read more

Hidden Gem of Ocean Shores! Lots of fun facts and information. Cool things to look at and touch. Kids will really enjoy looking around and will learn something cool. read more

Great stop, spent about 90 minutes looking and touching. Cool videos to watch. The kids enjoyed (all above 10 years).

We spent about 1 1/2 hours here expecting to be learning just about the local area. Instead, we learned about the entire west coast, forestry history, ocean currents, Coast Guard severe storm rescues, and geological facts that showed how the western coast and mountains were formed. I am over 70 and I learned a lot during my visit. Very well displayed for self learning at your own pace. They also have much that is kid oriented for them to discover and learn for themselves. I do recommend this center for family visits! read more

This place is a little gem of local history and botany. The whole center has been re-done with carved woodwork and nice lighting. The volunteers are very helpful. read more

We stopped here on our way home to learn a little bit about the area. Ocean Shores definitely has a rich history. The set up however is a little odd. You sort of feel like you are in your Grandmother's house and she loves faux wood paneling. Looking past the decor, the substance here is great. Any science or history nerd will be happy learning here. Plenty of cool history on shipwrecks and great marine life specimens. And for those that like action, they have some great stuffed animals and a wheel from a shipwreck to play with. The little gift shop has incredible beach and marine life books for all ages. I was very impressed and found an incredible tide pool book that's already been put to good use. read more

See all

This center has lots to offer for any age with eight rooms stuffed with displays of animals, rocks, handwoven baskets and history galore. The gift shop is full of terrific books. There are many printed handouts about birds to flowers and much more. Worth a visit and donation. read more

See all

The last time my Darling Husband and myself were in Ocean Shores, Washington state we drove to the Coastal Interpretive Center. I bought my Husband a book of ghost stories during one visit. The last time I bought my Husband a Tie Dye T Shirt with the name of the Interpretive Center on the back. I had to wait a few minutes for the Clerk at the register to notice that I was standing there ready to make my purchase, though. There were a few Tourists already here... so I waited to enter. Some of the exhibits are newer. The animals have been updated. And there is an area where there are animal pelts up on the wall so that visitors can feel certain animals furs. On the side of the Interpretive Center is a buoy from Japan. In front of the Interpretive Center is a small garden with markers. Most of the animals inside aren't alive... so if looking at dead things creeps you out... you should avoid that back room. I was looking at a few items from a Shipwreck... and my Husband said that he wanted to go back outside. There were books for children mostly. I didn't see anything that I wanted during this last day trip. read more

A hidden treasure well worth the hunt. We arrived at 9:35 on a Sunday morning and saw that they didn't open until 10:00. Some was inside just turning on the lights. He unlocked the door and welcomed us in to explore. This is a non-profit interpretive center run without any government funding or assistance with free admission (recommended donation of $5). Unlike most museums and interpretive centers, this is a hands on place. In the first room we entered, there were animal pelts on the wall and for the first time anywhere, I got to touch beaver, fur seal, coyote, weasel, and many more furs (Protected species pelts were donated by game wardens, confiscated from poachers.) In another room, I got to touch baleen from a whale. In other rooms there are shells, native basketry, glass floats, pieces from wrecked ships, and much more. The all-volunteer staff have built something special here and are happy to inform, instruct, or just chat. read more

This place just blew me away. Sure, it's not the Smithsonian, but that's not the point. If you're staying in Ocean Shores and are at all interested in learning a bit more about the natural surroundings, the native american history or the enormous financial optimism that made the place what it is (and is not) today, then this place is highly recommended. For kids, they have a great selection of hands-on activities where they can learn about Sand Dollars, whales, seals, pelicans and all the other wildlife that call Grays Harbour home. They also have the most knowledgable, patient and friendly staff working there who help you and your family get the most out of it. For adults, there's plenty of fascinating exhibits hidden away in the warren of rooms and passages. All in all, it's a wonderful demonstration of what can be achieved on a limited budget but with the enthusiasm and commitment of a dedicated community. read more

Being in Ocean Shores for an extended period of time, we were running a little short on keeping the kids busy. So we decided to check it out. I have to say, I was fairly impressed as were the kids. They house a lot of artifacts and have a lot of hands on stuff for the kids to explore. They ladies that were manning the day we went were so friendly and informative with the five kiddos we had in tow! So if you are in Ocean Shores on a bad weather day give this place a try! read more

I love the interpretive center! It is a little bit away from the main part of Ocean Shores, but oh so worth it. They have weekend only hours during the off season and usually open for 4-5 hours and run by volunteers. Plus it is free! Lots of different things to look at, such as pictures and to learn about the local history and wildlife. When you are in Ocean Shores and you have some time, come check this out. read more

If you can get past the posters and handwritten signs that look like they came out of an elementary school or state fair display, you will get a lot out of this place. I was so sure that my friend had turned the wrong way or had gone too far, but just as my doubts were increasing, there in front of us was the Interpretive Center! We walked around for a few minutes outside, checking out the whaling cannon and the eagle display. When we made our way inside, we signed the guestbook and one of the staff immediately brought us up to speed on what we should expect. She told us about the different rooms, a bit about the history of the Interpretive Center, and told us not to touch the mounted animals in the back. All in all, there was a LOT to see. Various clam shells, old tourist brochures, stuffed bobcats, etc. Make sure that you get out to this hidden history gem on your next trip out to Ocean Shores. read more

This place was waaaaaaaaaay better than I thought it would be. Not to sound mean, but 1st off....the interpretive center? Sounds weird...but it is a natural-history museum and just fascinating! The back room with all the "finds" from the beaches was awesome.Bottles from Russia, Japanese fishing floats....heck...they even have a Japanese Buoy that washed up on shore out here! They also have lots of pieces from the famous Catala shipwreck (which is no longer out here) like the windows, some galley doors, etc. They have animal exhibits, rocks and minerals, etc. and they encourage you to touch!!!! Yay...no yelling at my kid here! A must for anyone visiting...plus, it is right next to Damon State Park which is awesome.... read more

Excellent interpretive center with lots to do for kids! They were really friendly to our little guy and told us that basically the whole museum was hands-on. There was also a sand table out front. Tons of rooms filled with lots of interesting exhibits. Friendly, helpful staff. The hours are limited, so make sure you check. We got there an hour before they opened, but they opened early when they saw us milling about in the parking lot. Bonus points :) read more

Worth the visit! The staff is knowledgeable and friendly and they have some interesting stuff to see. It's not big, but worth an hour of your time. We also love the fact that this is a hands on museum, so you can touch and feel lots of the stuff on display! read more

Coastal Interpretive Center - These floated all the way from China and Japan! - Museums Near Me - Ocean Shores, Washington

If you are visiting the Washington Coast this place is a must! Located at the South end of OC, you'll see the blue sign for the interpretive center, it's easiest to take Ocean Shotes Blvd. all the way south from the center of town. Once here you will see many displays of old whale harpoon gear, fossilized whale teeth, plant & flower identification charts, numerous books on gems etc.... Check in with Steve, he runs the center and is a wealth of information. He will give you helpful tips about what to look for, the best places and techniques to make the discoveries waiting on the shore. I also noticed that there a quite a few locals who come to "shoot the breeze" with visitors and offer their personal stories of treasures and experiences. It is free of charge (a 5$ donation requested but not necessary. ) Kids will enjoy seeing the shark jaws and hearing Steve tell of his ancient shark tooth he found at Damon Pt., a massive mega shark shark type tooth!!! Ocean Shores can be fairly crowded, the north end is full of go carts & crap food. Go south and save yourself. This is where it's at. read more

The people who work here are incredibly friendly. They welcomed us, showed us around, pointed out the most interesting artifacts and told us the story behind it. This museum has lots of dead animals in dynamic poses. read more

See all

A HAIKU REVIEW Weird and wonderful Bigfoot prints, rocks, shells, boat stuff YOW - TAXIDERMY! read more

This place rocks! The staff is so friendly and so freaking smart!!! The exhibits waaaaaaay exceeded my expectations. What was planned as a fifteen minute walk through turned into a two hour excursion. read more

Coastal Interpretive Center - Museums Near Me - Ocean Shores, Washington

The only natural history museum on and about the coast of Washington, this place is fascinating. There's a newer addition that has all sorts of modern interactive displays like videos and a ship wheel, but the old section is my favorite. Small rooms absolutely crammed from top to bottom with coastal treasures like stuffed bats, Japanese glass floats, an authentic message in a bottle that traveled all the way from Japan, sand dollars, ship models, old logging tools, whale skeletons... the list is endless and the displays are endlessly interesting. Kids walk away with a great map of local shipwrecks, and there have been a lot of them, pencils and sand dollars, and when I mentioned we homeschool, I was given a bag stuffed with educational materials, plus a fun tsunami evacuation sign. All for free. There's no charge to visit and no visit to Ocean Shores is complete without stopping here. read more

Not a good place for employees or volunteers They treat them poorly. The place itself is cool to visit.

We just went here with our two kids, 4 and 6, and we loved it! The staff was super friendly and the place was really accessible for the kids. They had so many awesome displays we could touch - tons of bones, shells, stuffed sea birds, fossils, and more. They had baleen from a whale! They told us about shipwrecks in the area, then gave us not only a shipwreck map, but also real coal that was from an 1800s shipwreck that washed up on the shore!! Really just a hidden gem, and plenty for older kids and adults to learn from too. There was a play area and some outdoor trails that we didn't have a chance to check out. Highly recommended. Limited winter hours. read more

You must visit the Interpretive Center in Ocean Shores. Absolutely wonderful. Helpful staff, Great exhibits and hands-on activities for the kids. I really enjoyed visiting here. A+++++ read more

Very knowledgable staff about nature life and the goings on about town. Very good with directions and recommendations of what to see in the area. The exhibit was interesting. The books they sell are insightful and many on sale. Lovely staff and a must see when in ocean shores. A+++ read more