The cabrillo high school (CHS) aquarium, a 6,000 square-foot public aquarium operated by 200 CHS students, will develop a plan to provide all visitors with experiential lifelong learning and discovery…

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded Lompoc Unified School District $400,000 on September 1, 2026, under the Museums for America program (CFDA 45.301) to develop the Cabrillo High School Aquarium as a cohesive educational facility.

The project will redesign five existing tanks into high-quality, immersive exhibits connected through a common design context and true-life ecosystem framework. Activities include designing, fabricating, and installing exhibit components around the five habitats; developing, piloting, and implementing new curricula focused on marine stewardship and conservation attitudes; and increasing visitor capacity. The 6,000 square-foot aquarium, operated by 200 CHS students, will serve more than 10,000 visitors from the California Central Coast and surrounding region.

Performance occurs in Lompoc, California, with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027. This is a Project Grant assistance type.

The cabrillo high school (CHS) aquarium, a 6,000 square-foot public aquarium operated by 200 CHS students, will develop a plan to provide all visitors with experiential lifelong learning and discovery by developing five existing tanks into high-quality, cohesive exhibits connected through a common design context and supported by new curricula and activities. Project activities include designing, fabricating, and installing immersive exhibit components around the five existing habitats to cohesively connect each display with its true-life ecosystem; developing, piloting, and implementing curricula to improve attitudes toward stewardship and conservation of marine resources; and increasing capacity for visitors. This project will benefit more than 10,000 visitors from the california central coast and individuals across the region.