Wildlife Wonder Boat Brings Environmental Public Art to National Harbor
A monumental new work of public art has arrived on the National Harbor waterfront, bringing together creativity, conservation, and community engagement in Prince George’s County.
On World Art Day, April 15, National Harbor unveiled Wildlife Wonder Boat, an interactive bronze sculpture by internationally celebrated artists Gillie and Marc. Making its international debut at National Harbor, the 10-foot-high, 36-foot-long installation features 24 bronze animal figures representing endangered and exotic species from around the world.
Created as a modern-day interpretation of Noah’s Ark, Wildlife Wonder Boat uses public art to encourage conversations about wildlife conservation and our collective responsibility to protect endangered species. Visitors are invited to interact with the sculpture while discovering animals including the Bengal tiger, mountain gorilla, Amur leopard, orangutan, pangolin, elephant, rhino, and more. The installation joins National Harbor’s growing collection of accessible public artwork along its waterfront.
Rhonda Dallas, CEO and Chief Curator of the Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council (PGAHC), was invited by National Harbor to speak during the unveiling, joining the celebration of a project that demonstrates how public art can create memorable places while also bringing attention to important environmental issues.
For PGAHC, projects like Wildlife Wonder Boat reflect the possibilities of creative placemaking and environmental public art—using shared spaces not simply as locations for artwork, but as opportunities for people to connect with art, their surroundings, and one another.
Wildlife Wonder Boat is located on the National Harbor waterfront near the Spirit Park Carousel and will remain at National Harbor for a year.
