THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, March 31, 1995                 TAG: 9503310519
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY ALEX MARSHALL, STAFF WRITER
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   74 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** Some admission fees for Nauticus were missing or incorrect in the text of a story and in the informational graphic accompanying the MetroNews Friday about the opening of the center after a three-month closure. The entry fee for senior citizens 60 and over, military personnel, students from ages 13 to 17 and AAA members is $6.50, including tax. The admission fee for children 6 to 12 is $5.00. Children 6 through 12 years old will be charged $1.50 additional to enter the center's ``premium attractions,'' including the Nauticus theater, the Aegis naval battle simulator and Virtual Adventures. Correction published Saturday, April 1, 1995 on page A2 of THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT AND THE LEDGER-STAR. ***************************************************************** NAUTICUS MARKS NEW BEGINNING WITH REOPENING

The big, long, gray box stuffed with interactive computer exhibits, which sits on a pier on the Elizabeth River, opens its 1995 season today.

The center, better known as Nauticus, or the National Maritime Center, is ending a three-month closure and will now be open year-round.

The opening is a fresh start for the learning center and theme park. Although Nauticus has not been radically overhauled, it does have new directors and exhibits, lower prices, different hours and a revised layout.

More than 400,000 people visited Nauticus last year, making it one of the area's top attractions. But the center still fell short of initial projections and needed the city's help to pay its bills.

Today's opening will be low-key so that Nauticus managers can continue to prepare for next weekend's grand opening, which will feature live bands, costumed sea creatures and other entertainment.

The biggest change for the average person might be price. Admission for adults has dropped from $10, not including tax, to $7.50, including tax. Children 6 and older still pay $7.50. Admission is free for children under 6 - rather than the previous age limit of under 4.

It will cost visitors $2.50 to enter the center's ``premium attractions'': the Nauticus theater, the Aegis Naval battle simulator and Virtual Adventures.

In another visitor-friendly change, people can now enter the ground floor of Nauticus, including the gift shop and the restaurant, without paying admission. This also allows visitors to walk through the center to visit the Navy ships that dock at the pier and are open to the public.

Until May 1, Nauticus will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Starting in May, the center will stay open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., through September.

The exhibits inside Nauticus, many of which depend on interaction with a computer screen, have not been substantially changed, said Tom Schmid, director of operations.

Several aquariums with sea life have been added, and the layout of exhibits has been adjusted. MEMO: WHAT'S NEW

This season, Nauticus has new directors, new exhibits, new opening

hours and a new layout. But the biggest change might be price.

It now costs an adult $7.50 to enter, including tax, instead of $10,

excluding tax.

Children still pay $7.50. Children under 6 get in free, instead of only

children under 4.

It will cost visitors $2.50 extra to enter the center's ``premium

attractions,'' the Nauticus theater, the Aegis Naval battle simulator

and Virtual Adventures. by CNB