Oklahoma Maritime Education Center - Catoosa, OK
Visit the Oklahoma Maritime Education Center in Catoosa to learn about the importance of the Tulsa Port of Catoosa and the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. At the center, visitors can browse print displays and interactive computer terminals to learn the history of the river navigation system and the port including the dedication of the waterway on June 5, 1971, the regional and economic benefits of the waterway, and the environmental benefits of the waterway system. There are nearly 70 industries located at the port, and the Oklahoma Maritime Education Center displays samples of the types of cargo that come through the area.
A variety of interactive displays, including touch screen computers, video presentations, and a working Local and Dam model, will both educate and entertain visitors at the center. While you're there, take a look at the unique flooring. The carpet has a colorful pattern of two oversized maps, one of which highlights the ports used for international cargo and the other highlight's the country's waterway network and some of the major ports located in the United States.
A visit to Catoosa's Oklahoma Maritime Education Center wouldn't be complete without exploring the M/V Charley Border, which is dry-docked outside the center. Guests will learn about the difference between a towboat and a tugboat, the dimensions of a typical barge, and hear about Charley Border, whom the vessel is named after. A trip to the Oklahoma Maritime Education Center is great for all ages. Guided, self-guided and group tours are available.
The Maritime Education Center is a FREE exhibit where the family can explore interactive video kiosks where you can learn all about the history of the Port, and its economic impact on the state of Oklahoma.
Perfect for those older kids when they want to explore deeper into how the state runs, and let you live as you do!
You will learn all about the port itself, and see artifacts from companies that use the Tulsa Port of Catoosa. Did you know there were 25,000 miles of inland rivers in the USA? Well, now you do, and at the Maritime Education Center, that's all there to read about too!
It's an incredible way that the barge system can transport goods around the country. There are self-guided tours so you can explore the center in your own time.
Don't forget to look down at the center. The flooring is a colorful carpet that has two oversized maps facing each other. The first map is a world map and highlights some of the ports we utilize for international cargo, both inbound and outbound.
The second map is of the United States and highlights our country's vast inland waterway network and some of the major ports located in the United States. The carpet is a great visual tool to help bring to life how Tulsa and the State of Oklahoma play a vital role in the economy of this country.