Otto Otter observes the new exhibit case and reflects on the history of water safety in the Columbia–Pacific Northwest.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A familiar face in water safety education now has a permanent home in the nation’s capital. The Department of the Interior Museum has opened a new exhibit celebrating the 50th anniversary of Otto Otter, the Bureau of Reclamation’s long-standing water safety ambassador.
Located at the Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building, the exhibit is open to the public and highlights Otto’s five-decade legacy of teaching children and families how to stay safe around water, canals, and infrastructure. Through original artwork, historical materials, and updated program resources, visitors can explore how a fourth-grade classroom drawing from 1975 grew into a nationally recognized safety program.
The exhibit opening event was attended by Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Andrea Travnicek, Acting Commissioner Scott Cameron, and Deputy Commissioner David Palumbo, recognizing the program’s continued role in advancing public safety and education. The Bureau of Land Management’s ambassador—Seymour Antelope—was also in attendance, reflecting the shared legacy of the Department of the Interior’s public-facing education and safety figures.
Designed to engage museum visitors of all ages, the exhibit expands Otto Otter’s national reach and introduces new audiences to Reclamation’s water safety mission. Otto has spent decades visiting classrooms, community events, fairs, and recreation sites across the West, helping generations learn that water is powerful and deserves respect.
The Otto Otter Water Safety Program remains active today and is available for use by schools, community groups, local partners, and public agencies. The program offers free educational materials, lesson plans, water safety messaging, and opportunities to request Otto for events, making it easy for communities to promote safe behavior around water year-round.
The Otto Otter 50th Anniversary Exhibit will be on display through Jan. 9, 2026, and is open to the public during regular Interior Museum hours. Visitors are encouraged to stop by, learn Otto’s story, and discover how they can bring water safety education into their own communities.
To learn more about the Otto Otter Water Safety Program or to access outreach materials, visit CPN Region Water Safety Program | Bureau of Reclamation.
