Free
Community Events
Coming Soon
The Blue Whale Story
Admission
Paid Purchase tickets
Age Range
All Ages
Location
Main Building, Floor 1
Subjects
Come face-to-face with Earth’s largest creature through The Blue Whale Story!
Look forward to life-sized displays of this ocean giant.
The Blue Whale Story is more than just a special exhibition, it’s rooted in real science and the tragic loss of nine endangered North Atlantic blue whales that became trapped in sea ice off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, in 2014.
Although their passing represented a significant loss for an already vulnerable population, two of these whales were recovered and studied — giving scientists from the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) the rare opportunity to examine the blue whale like never before.
The exhibition invites families to discover the wonder of the blue whale while highlighting why protecting these gentle giants is essential to keeping our oceans healthy for future generations.
The Blue Whale Story is produced and circulated by ROM (The Royal Ontario Museum), Toronto, Canada.
On this page
PREVIEW
Through the exhibition guests will have the chance to:
- Meet “Blue” — a life-sized, female blue whale skeleton recovered from the sea ice tragedy, measuring 80-feet long, as wide as the Omnimax Theater dome!
- View the only full-scale blue whale heart model in the world and compare it to the hearts of other common creatures.
- Take a photo inside a full-scale model of a blue whale jaw, while learning about their remarkable feeding behavior.
- Explore the Whale Sound Chamber to hear surround-sound whale calls, compare different whale songs and learn what they may be communicating.
- Play “License to Krill,” an exciting game of survival, where participants dodge dangerous obstacles and “dive deep” to capture and eat krill (the predominant part of the blue whale diet).
- Observe the visual progression of how whales evolved from a 4-legged, wolf-like mammal (Pakicetus) that lived on land 50 million years ago to the modern-day ocean giant.
- Discover how blue whales faced a devastating decline through commercial whaling in the 19th and 20th centuries but are recovering slowly through science and preservation efforts
Exhibition Pricing
This is a paid experience. Entry every 15 minutes.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
| Ages | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|
| Members | $8.00 | |
| Adults (ages 13-59) | $16.00 | |
| Seniors (ages 60+) | $14.00 | |
| Children (ages 5-12) | $12.00 | |
| Children 4 and under | FREE* | |
Children Under 4 enter free, a ticket is still required and available at the Box Office.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Tickets are available now!
General public sale begins April 18.
You can get tickets on slsc.org, by calling 314.289.4424 or by visiting one of our box offices.
Tickets will be sold for a specific date and time. Keep in mind that time slots can sell out, so we encourage you to purchase tickets in advance.
All pertinent information will be found on our Group Visits page when tickets are available
No. To protect the exhibition, artifacts and ensure high quality experiences for our guests, food and beverages are not allowed in The Blue Whale Story. All food and beverages must be sealed and put away.
The exhibition is generally the least busy on weekday afternoons. If you’re interested in seeing this exhibition with fewer guests in the galleries, we recommend visiting then.
No, there is not an audio tour available for The Blue Whale Story.
Guests typically spend between 45 minutes to an hour in The Blue Whale Story. Many guests plan for more time to experience the rest of the Science Center.
You may visit as long as you like or until the exhibition closes. Please note that The Blue Whale Story is a time-entry exhibition, and the last guests will be admitted to the exhibition one hour prior to closing time. Please plan your visit accordingly. No re-entry will be permitted.
Yes. Photography and filming for personal use, including all pictures taken with cell phones, are allowed in The Blue Whale Story. If you are a professional photographer or member of the media who would like to photograph the exhibition, please contact marketing@slsc.org.
Please no flash photography to protect the items on display with the exhibition.
We recommend that all guests arrive at the venue at least 10 minutes prior to the time stated on their ticket. Due to the high volume of visitors to the exhibition, immediate access to the galleries is not guaranteed and guests should expect to queue briefly before entering the exhibition.
Wheelchairs, walkers, and scooters are all permitted.
Service animals are permitted, but please be advised that the volume and visuals may be uncomfortable for animals.
We cannot guarantee accommodations for those with sensory needs. We recommend visiting on our slower days, usually Monday or Thursday.
Groups of 10 or more can receive special discounts to The Blue Whale Story with advance reservations. Call 314.286.4680 to speak to our Group Sales Manager.
EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS FOR GROUPS 10 OR MORE
- Discounted tickets
- Reserve now, pay later
- Bus and shuttle parking available
Save on your The Blue Whale Story tickets with a Saint Louis Science Center membership.
Location
The Blue Whale Story is located on the 1st floor of the main 5050 Oakland Building. Access is available through the main entrance, turn left at the overlook, and just before GameXP across from the Life Science Lab.
One adult chaperone is required for every 10 children.
No food or beverages are allowed in the exhibition.
No pencils, pens, markers or any other kind of writing implements are allowed.
Flash photography is not allowed. You may take photos without flash.
The exhibition is accessible to visitors with disabilities, as well as visitors with strollers, scooters, and walkers. Elevators and ramps serve all public areas.
About the Royal Ontario Museum
This special exhibition is provided by the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).
Opened in 1914, ROM is Canada’s largest museum of natural history and world cultures and has more than six million objects in its collection and galleries – showcasing art, world cultures and natural history. The ROM is the largest field research institution in Canada and a world leader in research areas from biodiversity, paleontology and earth sciences to archaeology, ethnology and visual culture — originating new information toward a global understanding of historical and modern change in culture and environment.
