Shedd Aquarium

Shedd Aquarium
The Aquarium in 2022
Map
Date openedMay 30, 1930; 94 years ago (May 30, 1930)[1]
Location1200 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois, United States
No. of animals32,000[2]
No. of species1,500
Total volume of tanks5 million US gallons (19,000 m3)[1]
Annual visitors2.02 million[3]
MembershipsAZA,[4] WAZA[5]
Major exhibitsAmazon Rising, Caribbean Reef, Abbott Oceanarium, Polar Play Zone, Waters of the World, Wild Reef[6]
Public transit accessMetra Metra ME
South Shore Line South Shore Line
at Museum Campus/11th Street
Roosevelt
Red Orange Green
Websitewww.sheddaquarium.org
Shedd Aquarium
Built1929
ArchitectGraham, Anderson, Probst & White
NRHP reference No.87000820 [7]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPFebruary 27, 1987
Designated NHLFebruary 27, 1987[8]

Shedd Aquarium (formally the John G. Shedd Aquarium) is an indoor public aquarium in Chicago. Opened on May 30, 1930, the 5 million US gal (19,000,000 L; 4,200,000 imp gal) aquarium holds about 32,000 animals and is the third largest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere, after the Georgia Aquarium and Monterey Bay Aquarium.[2]

The Shedd Aquarium is a highly-ranked world aquarium and at one time was the largest indoor facility in the world. It is the first inland aquarium with a permanent saltwater fish collection. The aquarium is located along Lake Michigan in the city's Museum Campus, which also includes other highly-ranked institutions such as Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum of Natural History.

In 2015, the Shedd Aquarium had 2.02 million visitors. It was the most visited aquarium in the Western Hemisphere in 2005, and in 2007, became the most visited cultural institution in Chicago.[9] The aquarium contains 1,500 species, including fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians, and insects.[10] The aquarium received awards for "best exhibit" from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) for Seahorse Symphony in 1999, Amazon Rising in 2001, and Wild Reef in 2004. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

  1. ^ a b Garcia, Evan. "Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, by the Numbers". Window to the World Communications, Inc. WTTW.
  2. ^ a b Shedd Aquarium - Explore by Animal
  3. ^ Abel, David (August 2, 2016). "Top aquariums in the US, in terms of visitors". The Boston Globe. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference aza_list was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference waza_list was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Explore by Exhibit". sheddaquarium.org. John G. Shedd Aquarium. Archived from the original on May 1, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  7. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  8. ^ "Shedd Aquarium". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 28, 2009. Retrieved July 23, 2008.
  9. ^ "Crain's List Largest Tourist Attractions (Cultural): Ranked by 2007 attendance". Crain's Chicago Business. June 23, 2008. p. 22.
  10. ^ "Shedd Aquarium Overview" (PDF). January 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 5, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2008.