incorporated into the much larger attraction that opened in September 2017. Reopening The facility opened to the public under its current name and configuration on September 22, 2017. In attendance at the opening event were prominent North American conservation leaders and numerous celebrities including U.S. President Jimmy Carter, U.S. President George W. Bush, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, Mark Wahlberg, Kevin Costner, Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Easton Corbin, and many others. More than 40 conservation groups, including the National Audubon Society, Ducks Unlimited, National Wildlife Federation, National Wild Turkey Federation and National Geographic Society, partnered with the Wonders of Wildlife project, which was nearly a decade in development and construction. Wonders of Wildlife was voted the "2017 Best New Attraction" in the United States by readers of USA Today. Images References External links Natural history museums in Missouri Museums in Springfield, Missouri Aquaria in Missouri Museums established in 2017 2017 establishments in Missouri Zoos in Missouri