NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 15, 2007

Texas A&M University at Galveston Presents

Smithsonian Poster Exhibit Celebrating 200th Anniversary of NOAA Predecessor

      GALVESTON, TEXAS – Texas A&M University at Galveston will host a nationwide poster exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution.  From Sea to Shining Sea: 200 Years of Charting America’s Coasts explores the history of the Survey of the Coast originally commissioned by Thomas Jefferson in 1807.  This survey was the predecessor to today’s Coast Survey from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

      The exhibit opens Thursday, June 21, 2007 at 3 p.m. in the Jack K. Williams Library located on the Mitchell Campus of Texas A&M University at Galveston.  The exhibit will be open to the public Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. throughout the summer.

      This exhibit celebrates the history, accomplishments and scientific contributions of the nation’s first coastal survey agency in 20 colorful posters illustrated with photos, charts and artwork from the Survey’s archives.

      For more information, please visit the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit Website at www.sites.si.edu or call the Texas A&M University at Galveston Library at (409) 740-4560.