MaST Center Aquarium

The MaST Center Aquarium is the marine laboratory and public learning center of Highline College, located on a 270-foot pier at Redondo Beach in Des Moines. Its approximately 3,500 gallons of flow-through aquariums house more than 250 species of marine life from the Salish Sea, giving the facility a strongly regional focus. The aquarium is part of a larger marine science center used for college teaching, research, and community education, with the surrounding waterfront providing direct context for the ecosystems on display.

The aquarium includes two large touch tanks, an octopus tank, a schooling fish tank, and other exhibits featuring native Puget Sound species. A 38-foot gray whale skeleton is displayed in the main facility, while Discovery Days provide free public access and opportunities to learn about current issues affecting the Puget Sound marine ecosystem. School programs and summer camps add further hands-on learning. The MaST Center suits travelers interested in Pacific Northwest marine science who prefer an intimate, education-focused aquarium connected directly to local research and the surrounding coastal environment.