The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, Washington

This unique museum is located in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, part of the San Juan Archipelago, consisting of over 175 islands on the maritime border between Washington State and British Columbia. The museum focuses exhibitions around the history of whales in the region, particularly orca whales that live and interact in families called “pods.” Each pod has a different composition of individual orcas, and the Whale Museum documents the development of these pods over time, with genealogical diagrams dedicated to showing how pods morph across generations.  Visitors can learn about the history of whale watching and how to see orca whales in the archipelago from the museum's resources. Visitors interested in contributing to conservation efforts can adopt an orca, via donation to the museum’s conservation program. Among the specimens available for viewing at the museum are complete skeletons of whales, porpoises, and a pair of conjoined twin harbor seals. The museum also holds presentations to the public on orca whale behavior, spreading environmental awareness and education regarding the Salish Sea marine ecosystem.