Moultrie Creek
The world’s first oceanarium and underwater motion picture studio, Marineland opened in June, 1938, on a narrow strip of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intercoastal Highway. With the American military involvement in World War II in December, 1941, Marineland closed to the public. However, the U.S. Coast Guard used the facility for training of combat dogs. Government-contracted research on a shark repellent resulted in the development of a product included in sea survival kits used by downed Army and Navy pilots.
Count Ilia Tolstoy, one of the original founders of Marineland and grandson of the Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, left during the war to become President Roosevelt’s personal representative to the Dalai Lama in Tibet.
After extensive work and approximately $250,000 in expense, Marineland returned to full operation by May 1946.
marineland
Would you like to comment?
Join Diigo for a free account, or sign in if you are already a member.