| Name | National Aquarium |
| Brief Description | Stunning exhibits and more than 11,000 aquatic animals make this Inner Harbor destinatino the most popular |
| Type | Attraction |
| Category | Baltimore Maryland Aquarium |
| Description | The National Aquarium is an aquatic education and conservation organization with two locations and one mission: to provide transforming experiences that inspire people to enjoy, respect and protect the aquatic world.
In 2003, separate aquariums in Baltimore, MD, and Washington, DC, joined as one “National Aquarium.” The National Aquarium venues together hold living collections that include more than 16,000 animals from more than 660 species of fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and marine mammals living in award-winning, naturalistic habitats.
Transforming experiences reach well beyond the Aquariums’ walls. Education teams reach thousands of students each year with activities in schools and in the field; conservation crews and volunteers restore habitats and preserve species around the Chesapeake Bay and around the world; and the National Aquarium venues continue to serve as an economic engine for tourism in the city of Baltimore and as a unique draw in downtown Washington, DC. Through all of its work, the National Aquarium maintains its long-time commitment to serving the surrounding communities.
Baltimore Venue History
The Aquarium actually “began” in the mid-1970s when former Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer and the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development, Robert C. Embry, conceived and championed the idea of an aquarium as a vital component of Baltimore’s overall Inner Harbor redevelopment scheme. In 1976, Baltimore City residents supported the Aquarium by voting for it on a bond referendum, and the groundbreaking for the facility took place on Pier 3 in the City’s Inner Harbor on August 8, 1978.
As early as November 1979, the Aquarium’s world-class status was recognized by the United States Congress, which granted the facility “national” status. The National Aquarium in Baltimore opened to the public on August 8, 1981, after three years of construction. The land and the building are owned by the City of Baltimore. The Aquarium is run by a nonprofit corporation, the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Inc., which currently consists of a volunteer Board of Governors and larger Advisory Board, plus a full-time paid staff of nearly 300. Under the terms of its management agreement with the City, the goal of the nonprofit corporation is to remain totally self-supporting for operations.
The Aquarium is Maryland’s largest paid tourist attraction, and the economic impact of Aquarium visitors on the State of Maryland has been tremendous. A study by the Maryland Department of Economic and Employment Development determined that the Aquarium annually generates nearly $220 million in revenues, 2,000 jobs, and $6.8 million in State and local taxes.
The National Aquarium, Baltimore, features three pavilions of exciting attractions and a living collection including more than 16,000 animals from more than 660 species of fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and marine mammals that live in award-winning habitats. The venue also offers exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences such as sleepovers and special tours. The Aquarium partners with other community attractions and restaurants to optimize the visitor experience in Baltimore. |
| Address | 501 E. Pratt Street |
| CSZ | Baltimore, MD 21202 |
| Phone 1 | (410) 576-3800 |
| Handicapped Accessible | No |
| Website | www.aqua.org |
| Last Updated | 12/13/2011 |
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