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HISTORY
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What are the roots of ECHO? |
 On
ECHO's current Burlington Waterfront site, the former Naval
Reserve building housed the Lake Champlain Basin Science Center,
which opened in July 1995. The facility played an important role
in increasing public understanding of the Watershed, and
teaching the community about stewardship of the Basin
environment.
A three-phase plan to construct a 28,500 square
foot facility on the science center site was initiated in 1997.
The new institution's mission: To educate and delight people of
all ages about the Ecology, Culture,
History and Opportunity for
stewardship of the Lake Champlain Basin.
The grand opening of the renamed ECHO Lake
Aquarium and Science Center, at the Leahy Center for Lake
Champlain, took place on May 31, 2003. This project came to
fruition through the extraordinary efforts of U.S. Senator
Patrick Leahy — who helped secure significant federal funding —
plus generous private and corporate donations. Today, ECHO is a
major New England attraction, welcoming more than 150,000
visitors a year. |
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