Houston businessman Alfred C. Glassell, Jr. was a well-known philanthropist, but many never knew of his devotion to large species of game fish – not only sport but also for research and conservation. This exhibit highlights Tumbesian fish species, including the world-record black marlin caught by Glassell in 1953 that tipped the scales at 1,560 pounds. Footage of the catch was used in the 1958 film The Old Man and the Sea, starring Spencer Tracy. The exhibit includes over 40 specimens of game fish representing over a dozen species found off the coast of Cabo Blanco, Peru, where Glassell landed the big marlin.
Media interactives also complement the hall. This large space, intended for museum visitors to gather, frequently has surprises in store. For example, through augmented reality you may be greeted by a polar bear or tyrannosaur!
