Take a deep dive into Exploration Place’s new sharks exhibit

It took seven semi-trucks to bring nearly a dozen sharks to Exploration Place.

Wichita’s science center is one of only five U.S. stops for the “Sharks” exhibition put together by the Australian Museum. Running from Feb. 7 through May 4, “Sharks” is one of the largest exhibitions ever staged in the 25-year history of Exploration Place, according to officials.

“The big takeaway is how big it is,” said Erin Manning, vice president for marketing.

Exploration Place president and CEO Adam Smith called it “a true coup for Wichita” to be one of only a handful of U.S. locations showing the exhibit, particularly given the Australian Museum’s reputation for creating world-class traveling exhibitions.

The exhibition has already been to Miami; San Antonio; De Pere, Wis.; and it will go to Grand Rapids, Mich., after its Wichita run.

It took three weeks and nearly two dozen people — including four Australian Museum staff members — to unpack the 3,000 square feet of crates and set up the exhibition in Exploration Place.

And it could have been bigger.

“Normally this goes into a 10,000-square-foot space and ours is around 7,000, but we’ve got all the big stuff,” said Exploration Place exhibit manager Michael Kesterson.

That “big stuff” includes 10 life-sized, scientifically precise shark models and what’s called an oceanarium. The latter is an immersive simulation where visitors can step inside the center of two curved walls and watch projected digital images of sharks gliding around and learn more about sharks — like the statistic that 100 million sharks are killed annually because of deliberate hunting for their fins, which is called shark finning, and being accidentally caught up in fishing nets or lines.

The models include the world’s largest known predatory fish, which is the great white shark, the odd-looking hammerhead shark and the extinct Helicoprion, which got its buzzsaw shark nickname because of its whorl of blade-like teeth.

Visitors can also touch blown-up models of shark skins, which tend to appear smooth but are actually made up of scales, take a personality quiz to figure out which kind of shark they would be and see what a hammerhead shark sees with its widely set eyes.

Another display gives an inside look at some of a shark’s stomach contents, including the tattooed forearm of a criminal (it’s a model, of course).

To get to the exhibition, visitors will walk through the jaws of a shark.

And just in case you’re wondering what will be playing in the exhibition space: It won’t be the “Baby Shark” children’s song or the theme from the “Jaws” music.

“It will be ocean sounds,” Manning said.

Other shark-themed experiences at Exploration Place include the showing of the 40-minute film “Great White Shark” and the “Shark Showdown” live science show that includes demonstrations and interactive experiments ranging from how sharks use their fins and their keen sense of smell. Tickets to the dome and live science shows are available separately or as part of Exploration Place’s all-access pass, which is $20 for adults with discounts for ages 3-11 and 65 and older.

Three sleepover events inside the exhibition, called “Sharks in the Dark,” are scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. on March 14, 28 and April 4. Admission is $55, with discounts for members. The overnight events are for ages 5 and older, and an adult must attend with a child.

‘Sharks’ traveling exhibit

Where: Exploration Place, 300 N. McLean Blvd.

When: Friday, Feb. 7-Sunday, May 4; hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily with extended hours until 8 p.m. Thursdays

Admission: $12 for ages 12-64, $10 for ages 3-11 and 65 and older, free for members and ages 2 and under for all exhibits. Other packages including admission to other Exploration Place activities are available.

More info: (316) 660-0600 or exploration.org