It was Mayor Flippen who brought forward the idea of declaring the manatee as an official City Mascot. The manatee is a gentle, lumbering creature that can be seen in the waterways surrounding the island city and is the perfect mascot for our little piece of paradise. The three manatee statutes being created especially for this exhibition will be placed in public parks once the exhibit closes. Local artists will have their work on exhibit and we hope visitors are inspired to go out and visit the many waterways that surround the island city and look for manatees and mermaids!

The exhibit will be unveiled on Saturday, February 6th at 6 PM and the gallery will be open free to the public on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 12 Noon to 6 PM through March 6th. COVID-19 pandemic protocols will be practiced including wearing a face covering and practicing social distancing. A virtual tour of the gallery will be posted to our website once the exhibit opens to the public, so check back if you're not able to come see it in person.