— Submitted by the Whale Museum

Please join us on Nov. 2 at 3 p.m. as we honor the lives and commemorate the deaths of passed Southern Resident orcas. At this annual Day of the Dead celebration we will pay tribute to Ophelia (L-27) and Rhapsody (J-32). Come and share your memories of departed whales who are gone but certainly not forgotten.

The Whale Museum will help keep the legacies of these whales alive through our Storykeeper Series – commemorative packets available in the Whale Museum store, designed to remember those orcas who have gone before. In the Mexican Day of the Dead tradition, refreshments will be provided.

We ask for your help as we prepare to honor the departed members of the Southern Resident community. If you have any photos of past whales or special stories you would like to share, we welcome them. For more information please contact us at 360 378-4710, ext. 30

The Nov. 2 event is free and open to the public, although donations are appreciated. The Whale Museum is located in Friday Harbor at 62 First St. N. Founded in 1979, The Whale Museum’s mission is to promote stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research.

In addition to providing exhibits, the Museum also provides programs including the Marine Naturalist Training, Orca Adoption Program, Soundwatch Boater Education, San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network, and the Whale Hotline. The Whale Museum can be found online here.