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How We Helped Bring the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to a Global Audience : A Virtual Museum Story

  • Writer: Ben Mazza
    Ben Mazza
  • 12 hours ago
  • 3 min read
screenshot from the virtual eco-discovery center experience. It shows interactive video panels, a 3D map, and exhibit walls with informational text and images.
Guests can step directly into a digital twin of the real-life eco-discovery center

Sagenverse worked with NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to create an immersive, web-accessible virtual museum of the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center. Establishing a project that expands education, outreach, and engagement for one of the world’s most diverse and iconic marine ecosystems.

Facing a Reach Limit

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects an extraordinary range of habitats — from coral reefs and mangrove forests to seagrass meadows and cultural shipwreck sites. But the Eco-Discovery Center itself, with its rich exhibits and hands-on learning tools, was only serving people who could physically visit Key West.

NOAA wanted to change that. They saw an opportunity to take this treasure online — not as a simple tour, but as a fully interactive 3D experience that educators, students, and curious explorers everywhere could access.


A Virtual Museum That Feels Real


Using our technology platform and experience building real-time interactive content, we recreated the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center virtual tour in a way that closely mirrors the physical space while adding layers of digital engagement. Users can:


  • Walk through interactive exhibits inspired by the real center

  • Explore habitats like mangrove islands and coastal ecosystems

  • Engage with digital maps and media right in their browser

  • Access supplemental materials anytime without downloads


This virtual tour loads seamlessly on laptops, tablets, and phones, removing traditional barriers to access and making marine education more inclusive.


What Partners Are Saying


John Armor, director of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, said it well:

“Sagenverse has given us a unique opportunity to share this extremely important ecosystem with people around the world, including students, educators, adventurers, researchers, and more. We are optimistic that virtual access to our visitor center will inspire even more people to visit and explore the Florida Keys.”

Kristina Agard, manager of the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center, put it simply:

“Through this technology, the story and beauty of the sanctuary will spread even farther than we can imagine.”

And our CEO, Ben Mazza, summed up the philosophy behind the work:

“This is an accessibility story, not a technology story. It’s now available to everyone across the globe… opening up the power of a game engine without the need for extensive technical infrastructure.”

More Than a Digital Replica


screenshot from the interactive mangrove habitat experience. It shows a 3D sea turtle, and interactive exhibit placards.
Explorers can visit a living mangrove forest and meet local animals

The Eco-Discovery Center virtual tour isn’t just a static copy of the physical exhibits. It builds on the center’s mission to educate the public about marine ecosystems and conservation by making that experience truly accessible to audiences anywhere.


People who may never set foot in Key West can now:


  • Learn about coral reef systems and their ecological importance

  • Discover how mangroves and seagrasses support marine life

  • Experience the center’s engaging exhibits and interactive moments

  • Use the tour as a supplemental resource in classrooms and libraries


And because the experience runs right in the browser, there’s no need for special hardware or downloads, making it easier for teachers and learners to adopt.


Why This Matters


This project shows what’s possible when immersive online exhibits and interactive learning meet a clear educational mission. It also signals a broader shift in how public institutions can extend outreach:


  • Museums and visitor centers can serve global audiences

  • Conservation stories can reach classrooms and community spaces far from site locations

  • Digital engagement becomes a tool for real impact, not just marketing


Press and Official Announcement


This initiative was highlighted in NOAA’s news release and the wider announcement about the Florida Keys Sanctuary Virtual Tour, which you can explore here: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/2026/florida-keys-virtual-tour.html 


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