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The whale tank

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An advertisement for the Cetacean Institute

The Cetacean Institute was an aquatic mammal research and education facility located in Sausalito, California, which was in operation in the late-20th century. At the time, it was the only museum on Earth exclusively devoted to whales. At the time, the Institute's phone number was 555-3970.

The Institute was situated on the shore of San Francisco Bay, and housed the largest seawater tank in the world - home to the only two humpback whales in captivity, a male and female named George and Gracie.

In 1986, the Institute's assistant director, Doctor Gillian Taylor encountered James T. Kirk there. Kirk and his crew had traveled back in time from the 23rd century with the mission of obtaining two humpbacks in an effort to repopulate the species. George and Gracie were released by the institute at that time, and taken to Alaska to be released back into the wild. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)

The Cetacean Institute scenes of Star Trek IV were filmed at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California.
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