List of Aquaria in the US

[Spindrift]

[As of 2012]


Thought it would be cool if people talked about their experiences with aquariums in the US. There is also another thread specifically for aquariums in other countries: http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?2130-List-of-Aquaria-around-the-World.
Heard of any cool projects these places are doing? Recommendations/Ratings? First-hand experiences? Jobs even, maybe? Merring opportunities?
How many have you been to?


Took this from the Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._United_States

Alabama

• George F. Crozier Estuarium - Dauphin Island
• McWane Science Center - Birmingham

Alaska

• Alaska SeaLife Center - Seward

Arizona

• Sea Life - Tempe
• Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium - Litchfield Park

Arkansas

• National Park Aquarium - Hot Springs

California

• Aquarium of the Bay - San Francisco
• Aquarium of the Pacific - Long Beach
• Birch Aquarium - La Jolla
• Cabrillo Marine Aquarium - San Pedro
• Monterey Bay Aquarium - Monterey
• Santa Monica Pier Aquarium - Santa Monica
• Sea Life - Carlsbad
• SeaWorld San Diego - San Diego
• Steinhart Aquarium - San Francisco

Colorado

• Downtown Aquarium - Denver

Connecticut

• Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk - Norwalk
• Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration - Mystic

District of Columbia

• National Aquarium - Washington, D.C.

Florida

• Clearwater Marine Aquarium - Clearwater^[1]
• Florida Aquarium - Tampa
• Gulfarium - Fort Walton Beach^[2]
• Key West Aquarium - Key West
• Miami Seaquarium - Miami
• Mote Marine Laboratory - Sarasota
• Pier Aquarium - St. Petersburg^[3]
• The Seas with Nemo & Friends - Orlando
• SeaWorld - Orlando
• Tarpon Springs Aquarium - Tarpon Springs^[4]

Georgia

• Bo Ginn Aquarium - Millen^[5]
• Flint RiverQuarium - Albany
• Georgia Aquarium - Atlanta

Guam

• UnderWater World Guam - Tumon

Hawaii

• Maui Ocean Center - Maui
• Waikiki Aquarium - Waikiki
• Sea Life Park - Oahu

Illinois

• Shedd Aquarium - Chicago

Iowa

• National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium - Dubuque

Kentucky

• Newport Aquarium - Newport

Louisiana

• Aquarium of the Americas - New Orleans

Maine

• Gulf of Maine Research Institute - Portland
• Maine Aquarium (closed; plans for re-opening dependent on fundraising) - Saco
• Maine State Aquarium - Boothbay Harbor

Maryland

• National Aquarium in Baltimore - Baltimore

Massachusetts

• New England Aquarium - Boston

Michigan

• Belle Isle Aquarium (closed) - Detroit

Minnesota

• Great Lakes Aquarium - Duluth
• SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium - Bloomington

Missouri

• Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium - Springfield
• World Aquarium - St. Louis^[6]
• Kansas City Sea Life Aquarium - Kansas City^[7]

Nebraska

• Ak-Sar Ben Aquarium - Schramm Park State Recreation Area
• Henry Doorly Zoo - Omaha

Nevada

• Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay - Las Vegas

New Hampshire

• Seacoast Science Center - Rye

New Jersey

• Adventure Aquarium (formerly the New Jersey State Aquarium) - Camden
• Jenkinson's Aquarium - Point Pleasant Beach^[8]
• Marine Mammal Stranding Center - Brigantine
• Trenton Aquarium - Trenton

New Mexico

• Albuquerque Aquarium - Albuquerque

New York

• Aquarium of Niagara - Niagara Falls
• Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center - Riverhead
• New York Aquarium - Brooklyn

North Carolina

• North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher - Kure Beach
• North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores - Pine Knoll Shores
• North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island - Roanoke Island

Ohio

• Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - Columbus
• Greater Cleveland Aquarium - Cleveland

Oklahoma

• Oklahoma Aquarium - Tulsa

Oregon

• Hatfield Marine Science Center - Newport
• Oregon Coast Aquarium - Newport
• Seaside Aquarium - Seaside

Pennsylvania

• Philadelphia Aquarium - Philadelphia (1911–1962)
• PPG Aquarium - Pittsburgh

Rhode Island

• Oceans Aquarium Research & Science Center - Coventry, Rhode Island

South Carolina

• Ripley's Aquarium - Myrtle Beach^[9]
• South Carolina Aquarium - Charleston

Tennessee

• Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies - Gatlinburg^[10]
• Tennessee Aquarium - Chattanooga

Texas

• Caldwell Zoo Aquarium - Tyler
• Children's Aquarium at Fair Park, Dallas^[11]
• Dallas World Aquarium - Dallas
• Downtown Aquarium - Houston
• Kipp Aquarium, Houston^[12]
• Moody Gardens Aquarium - Galveston
• Richard Friedrich Aquarium, San Antonio
• SeaWorld San Antonio - San Antonio
• Seven Seas Marine Life Park - Arlington
• Texas State Aquarium - Corpus Christi

Utah

• The Living Planet Aquarium - Sandy

Vermont

• ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center - Burlington

Virginia

• Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center - Virginia Beach

Washington

• Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium - Tacoma
• Seattle Aquarium - Seattle

Wisconsin

• Reiman Family Aquarium at Discovery World - Milwaukee

[New York Mermaid]

I worked at both the NY Aquarium and began my rescue career - at Atlantis Marine world - or rather Long Island Aquarium- both are small but wonderful nonprofit Aquariums, they have a clear message in their parks and are huge on conservation and rescue.

and I've travelled to Shedd aquarium, Sea Life Park in Hawaii (which isint up there), Georgia Aquarium, Seaworld Orlando and Clearwater Marine Aquarium, All these aquariums, minus CMA has something special and interesting about them, each aquarium is unique but they all have one clear message, Conservation..

Shedd Aquarium has deep tanks for their open ocean whitesided dolphins. its a beautiful aquarium as well, Georgia aquarium has an amazing exhibit with the whale sharks and manta rays, Seaworld FL has Orcas and other animals and CMA...well they have winter..

I did turtle trek in SeaWorld Florida and they have a small lecture in the turtle habitat before you enter the "movie" about the plight of SeaTurtles from the babies following porch lights instead of the light of the moon, to plastic bags left drifting in the ocean which Mimic the turtle's favorite food, Jellyfish and the Turtle Excluder Device which they had on hand to show people how it works, even the movie was towards teaching people what to do to help turtles the next time they go to the beach... (just using an example)

Clearwater Marine Aquarium (which will be Clearwater Marine Hospital soon) was the only aquarium i wasnt happy with, though seaworld has their shamu logo, CMA literally throws Winter in your face, I cant help but feel their exploiting her disability more than being an "aquarium".. you want to talk about tiny tanks they kept winter in a small holding pool where she was literally surrounded by guests. They had turtles in a tiny area, though you can see the animal rescue center, i feel that this is a place i wont ever go to again, or rather one i will take into account of what NOT to do for my own rescue center.

[Spindrift]

Lol wow how did I miss Sea Life Park? I grew up there! Adding it. Beautiful and descriptive contribution, MermaidLanai!

[New York Mermaid]

thanks you, and lol i was wondering if you might have missed it. SLP is a beautiful aquarium let me tell you, my favorite is the entrance when you walk in, its like they immerse you into their coral reef tank..

[Mermaid Sirena]

This is amazing! All of the lists are! How did you ever find all of them?! Alas I see that it is true the only aquarium in MI is no more.

[Spindrift]

@Mermaid Sirena: Lol, I don't really deserve so much credit. The list is on Wikipedia - I've included the URL at the top of the post.

[Spindrift]

The ones I've been to are:

Hawaii - Waikiki (Oahu), Sea Life Park (Oahu)
New York - NY Aquarium
Massachusetts - Boston New England Aquarium
California - SeaWorld San Diego
Washington D.C - National Aquarium
Maryland - Baltimore National Aquarium

Since they're in my hometown, both Waikiki and Sea Life Park will always mean a lot to me. After those the Baltimore Aquarium and the NY Aquarium are definitely my favorites so far in the US. I didn't really like SeaWorld San Diego or the New England Aquarium. The former because it had this atmosphere that was too commercial and blatantly money-grubbing. It was obvious it was there to make money and didn't seem to really support conservation or marine education. If they did have some it probably seemed like it was only really in place for show. It turned out that I knew more about the animals than the staff. For the latter, the New England Aquarium was pretty cool at first, but too many noisy/obnoxious/rowdy/fist-banging-on-glass kids really turned me off on that place. Also the seals didn't really look like they had enough room and seemed really restless when I was watching them and after going to Ocean Park in Hong Kong and seeing the National Aquarium in Baltimore, the giant several-floor-tank just didn't seem up to par. It has potential to be a favorite over other aquariums in the US, but for now it's just lying about SeaWorld. The NY Aquarium and the Baltimore Aquarium definitely blew my mind though.

[Bellasea]

This is amazing! All of the lists are! How did you ever find all of them?! Alas I see that it is true the only aquarium in MI is no more.

Don't quote me on this, but I think Belle Isle is re-opening. They had a gala-thiny last week to benefit it. I also did a quick internet search about it and althogh I could not find dates for re-opening I ket finding stuff saying ti is re-opening.

[Coradion]

I've been to so many aquariums I don't think I can remember them... I work at the Waikiki Aquarium it's a nice one to visit and we currently have some one of a kind angelfish. Like our peppermint angel, we're the only aquarium in the world to have one of the two living captive specimens.