Port Of Catoosa Maritime Education Center Opens

Union seventh graders were the first people to explore the Port of Catoosa's Maritime Education Center.

The interactive exhibit has touch screen monitors so visitors can watch documentaries. There are also various artifacts on display. The Center's director says it's important to educate people on the Port, its value and importance to the community.

"It's been here for 43 years, and it has grown up from no businesses out here to now over 70 companies," said Susan McWatters, The Tulsa Port of Catoosa's Maritime Education Center Director.

The new Center will be an asset for schools visiting the port, and at Friday's opening we saw that first-hand as a group of 7th graders from Union received a tour.

"I think it's pretty cool like just we export this everywhere and import. It's amazing," said Sam Bennett, a seventh grader at Union Public Schools.

"One of the things big things and hurdles we have to overcome is that people don't understand that Oklahoma even has a port," McWatters said.

"So one of the things that we want to bring exposure to is the fact that a), there is a port here, and the different types of commodities that we deal with."

The center is open to the public weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It's definitely a neat place and something people will want to check out.

The Maritime Education Center is located at 5350 Cimarron Road in Catoosa.