Some things are worth the wait. Nine years in the making, the largest fish and wildlife exhibition in the world opened September 22 in Springfield, Missouri, just ahead of National Hunting and Fishing Day — which was September 23.

The Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium was created by Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, who envisioned the not-for-profit project as the planet’s greatest tribute to the conservation movement.

“Wonders of Wildlife is an inspirational journey around the world that celebrates the role of hunters and anglers as America’s true conservation heroes,” Morris said in press release. “We proudly invite families and sportsmen to come share the wonder with an unforgettable experience meant to inspire generations of future conservationists.”

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Constructed next to Bass Pro Shop’s national headquarters, the sprawling 350,000-square-foot complex is larger in scale and scope than the Smithsonian Museum of National History. Filled with over 35,000 animals, the two-part attraction features a 1.5 million gallons of salt and freshwater aquariums on one side, and over 1.5 miles of immersive habitat trails on the other, Fox 4 said. Gallery highlights include a two-story Shipwreck Room, African savannah, Amazon rainforest, plus exhibits on the Arctic and American National Parks.

Not surprisingly, the mesmerizing museum took an army of staffers to produce: Morris partnered with 34 different conservation organizations and hired over 2,000 artisans, scientists, and engineers to make Wonders of Wildlife reality. According to their website, the combo ticket for access to both the aquarium and wildlife galleries is $23.95 for children ages 4 to 11 and $39.95 for adults.

With the exception of Christmas, it will be open daily.

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To commemorate its grand opening, on September 20 Wonders of Wildlife hosted a 400-person gala to honor prominent North American conservation leaders. The star-studded event was attended by President George W. Bush, President Jimmy Carter, and U.S. Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke. Music stars including Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley gave a special performance.

Created by Congress in 1972, National Hunting and Fishing Day has been celebrated the fourth Saturday of every September to promote the importance of wildlife, aquatic and open space preservation as well as outdoor recreation in the U.S. Further, the nation’s passion for great outdoors is serious business. According to the latest report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 101.6 million Americans ages 16 and older participated in wildlife-related activities like hunting, fishing, and wildlife-watching last year, spending around $156 billion.

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At the museum’s gala, Secretary Zinke signed a proclamation officially declaring October as National Hunting and Fishing Month.

This Fox News article is used by permission.

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(photo credit, article image: Jllm06)