New England Aquarium

New England Aquarium

New England Aquarium plaza
Date opened	June 20, 1969
Location	Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Land area	75,000 sq.ft.
Coordinates	42°21′32.46″N 71°3′2.46″W / 42.3590167°N 71.0506833°W / 42.3590167; -71.0506833Coordinates: 42°21′32.46″N 71°3′2.46″W / 42.3590167°N 71.0506833°W / 42.3590167; -71.0506833
Number of animals	20,000[1]
Number of species	600[1]
Annual visitors	1.3 million[2]
Memberships	18,000 [1], AZA,[3] AAM[4]
Website	www.neaq.org

The New England Aquarium is an aquarium located in Boston, Massachusetts.

In addition to the main aquarium building, attractions at the New England Aquarium include the Simons IMAX Theatre and the New England Aquarium Whale Watch, which operates from April through November.^[5] More than 1.3 million people visit the aquarium and theatre each year.

The New England Aquarium’s initial conceptual design, architecture and exhibit design (opened in 1969), was led by Peter Chermayeff of Peter Chermayeff LLC while at Cambridge Seven Associates.

History

New England Aquarium from the harbor

Planning for the aquarium began in 1962, with the principal designer being Peter Chermayeff of Cambridge Seven Associates. The building was opened to the public in 1969.^[6][7] The Giant Ocean Tank opened in 1970, and at the time was the largest circular ocean tank in the world.^[8]

The new West Wing was completed in 1998 by Schwartz/Silver Architects. The glass and steel addition includes the harbor seal exhibit on the public plaza, ticketing booth, changing exhibit galleries, gift shop, cafe, and lobby.^[9]

The West wing was completed in 1998. This expansion allows the aquarium to house larger temporary exhibits, and also includes a gift shop and cafe.^[10]

In 1999 the aquarium opened a new rehabilitation center for harbor porpoises in Duxbury, Massachusetts. The facility includes a 29,000-US-gallon (110,000 l; 24,000 imp gal) rehabilitation tank that can house three porpoises at a time.^[10]

The Matthew and Marcia Simons IMAX® Theatre opened in 2001, in a separate building designed by E. Verner Johnson and Associates. The 6 story high screen and its projector can show both 2D and 3D movies.^[10][11]

In 2003 the aquarium opened Amazing Jellies, a $1.9 million, twelve tank jellyfish exhibit exhibit emphasizing that jellyfish are survivors and are actually likely to increase with climate change.

In 2006, the aquarium earned full accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

In 2009, the New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center opens. This open-air exhibit lets visitors view the aquarium's Northern fur seals.^[10]

Exhibits

An African penguin tests the water in the penguin exhibit

Located in the central open atrium of the main building, the principal feature of the Aquarium is the Giant Ocean Tank, a cylindrical 200,000-US-gallon (760,000 l) tank simulating a Caribbean coral reef. This tank houses sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, eels, barracuda, and many smaller reef-living fish. Open at the top, the concrete tank is surrounded by a walkway that spirals down, allowing visitors access to 52 windows that offer views of the reef from every angle and level.^[12]

At the bottom, the tank stands in a large, square 150,000-US-gallon (570,000 l) penguin exhibit, hosting African penguins, Northern and Southern rockhopper penguins and little blue penguins. The penguin exhibit can be seen from the spiral walkway of the central tank or from elevated viewing areas that completely surround the perimeter. The penguins live on several artificial rock islands in the exhibit.^[13]

Lionfish

Surrounding the atrium are three levels of smaller exhibits including:

• The Thinking Gallery, also known as the Temperate Gallery, featuring Goliath grouper, ancient fishes, rare sea dragons,^[14] coastal environments, and thousands of schooling fish.
• The Freshwater Gallery focuses on freshwater habitats in South America compared to New England river systems. This gallery features piranhas, anacondas, electric eels, and Atlantic salmon.
• The Edge of the Sea tide pool. Visitors are allowed to touch New England tide pool animals including sea stars, sea urchins, snails, hermit crabs, and horseshoe crabs.^[15]

Japanese sea nettle

• The Northern Waters of the World Gallery focuses on New England marine habitats compared to Pacific Northwest habitats. The gallery features shorebirds, colored lobsters, goosefish, Giant Pacific Octopus, and countless other invertebrates.
• The Tropical Gallery features many colorful tropical fish, cuttlefish, venomous fish including lionfish, scorpionfish, and living corals.
• The Animal Medical Center gives visitors a behind-the-scenes view of what it takes to care for thousands of creatures including fish, reptiles, mammals, and birds.

In front of the Aquarium is a harbor seal exhibit. It can be seen for free without going into the building.^[16] Seven Northern fur seals are on exhibit behind the Aquarium in the open-air New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center on the harborside terrace, which opened in 2009 with views of Boston Harbor.^[17] All the New England Aquarium's marine mammals participate in daily training sessions that are open for public viewing and participation.

The Amazing Jellies exhibit in the West Wing features moon jellies, sea nettles, upside-down jellies, Palauan Lagoon jellies and Australian spotted jellies, all from diverse habitats around the world.^[18] In 2011, the Trust Family Foundation Shark and Ray Touch Tank opened in the West Wing. At 25,000 US gallons (95,000 l), it is the largest on the east coast. Some of the species in the exhibit include cownose rays, yellow rays and chain dog fish. It is a permanent exhibit that will allow for more interaction between the animals and the visitors.^[19]

Special exhibits

Penguin Power

Focusing on the aquarium's penguins in 2010, this theme helped show off the natural powers of penguins. Visitor learned how penguins survive in the wild and how to protect them.^[20]

Move It! Marine Mammals in Motion

Coinciding with the opening of the New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center in 2009, Marine Mammals In Motion highlighted the athleticism of the Aquarium's Northern fur seals and Atlantic harbor seals. A program pathway encouraged kids to be active with calf stretches, dancing, spinning and jumping. The Marine Mammal Center also draws connections between marine mammals and humans and points out the challenges marine mammals face in our oceans today.^[17]

Turtles Uncovered

In this 2008 exhibit, visitors learned that turtles and tortoises have lived on Earth for about 300 million years, long before the dinosaurs were around, but now some turtles are faced with the threat of extinction due to pollution, habitat loss and global climate change.^[21]

Ocellate river stingray

Sharks and Rays

A temporary touch tank in 2008, home to southern stingrays, cownose rays, yellow stingrays and coral catsharks,has now become a permanent exhibit, officially named the Trust Family Foundation Shark and Ray Touch Tank. The clear, shallow water allows visitors to touch and feel the different species, watching them feed in the reconstruction of their natural mangrove and lagoon themed habitat. The tank not only promotes the animals' importance in maintaining the ecosystem, but also the maintenance humans can provide for the environment.

Killer Instincts

This special program in 2007 helped visitors learn about the animals that we fear the most. The special program included an interactive passport program along with live animal presentations and a large-format, high definition shark video. Prehistoric marine reptiles appeared in 3D at the Simons IMAX Theatre in Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure. Featured animals included the sand tiger shark, anaconda, great barracuda, electric eel, lionfish, moray eel, giant Pacific octopus and southern stingray.^[10]

Presentations and Shows

The aquarium has wonderful informative and entertaining live animal presentations around the aquarium every day. These live animal presentations bring the visitors up close with the animals.

• Penguin Feedings

Twice a day the Aquariums staff feed the penguins herring in the Penguin exhibits.

• Penguin Presentations

The Aquariums staff will teach the visitors about the three different species of penguins the aquarium has like where they live in the wild and what they eat.

• Giant Ocean Tank Divers

This is when the Aquariums divers would hand feed the animals in the 200,000 gallon tank.

• Giant Ocean Tank Talks

At the top of the GOT, visitors would learn about the animals (sea turtles, sharks, barracuda, etc.) that live in this huge exhibit including how this exhibit enormous tank was built and how the staff takes care of the animals in the exhibit.

• Harbor Seal Training Sessions

Taking place in the front plaza, visitors would see how these harbor seals interact with their trainers. These seals can give kiss, wave, and say a friendly hello.

• Fur Seal Training Sessions

These Northern Fur Seals in the New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center will show visitors how these seals stay healthy and active with each activity such as rolling, waving, and stretching.

• Live Animal Presentations

At the Aquariums Medical Center, this presentation will show off the aquariums most fascinating and frightening animals and that there is nothing to be scary about them.

• Climate Change Activities

New this year, taking place at the Penguin exhibit, the Aquariums staff will teach the visitors on how they can help protect the ocean animals from climate change.

Location

The New England Aquarium is on Central Wharf along Atlantic Avenue in Boston and adjacent to Long Wharf and the Rose Kennedy Greenway. The nearest subway stop is Aquarium Station on the MBTA's Blue Line, but the aquarium is a short walk from the Haymarket Station on the Orange and the Green Lines. The Aquarium is within walking distance of the North End, Government Center, and the Financial District.

Conservation

The aquarium staff often participates in rescue efforts for stranded marine mammals and sea turtles.^[22][23]

Cancelled Expansions

In the late 1980's there were plans to sell the current land to build a bigger aquarium in the Charleston Navy Yard (Drydock #5).^[24] The project was to cost $150 million dollars and was to take up 278,300 square feet (25,850 m²) of land. Designs had the drydock to be flooded and at one exhibit visitors were 19 feet (5.8 m) below ground. If it had been built it would have been the largest aquarium made at that time. The proposed aquarium was predicted to attract around 2 million visitors each year.^[25] However, the proposal to move the aquarium was cancelled in 1991, when neighbors of the proposed site objected it and when the aquarium couldn't make a reasonable amount of money from the Central Wharf site.

When the site movement was cancelled, the aquarium proposed to expand the current aquarium on both sides in 1992 (East wing expansion and West wing expansion). The East wing project would have been a 79,000 - 90,000 sq ft (8,400 m²). expansion costing $43 million dollars including a 1.1 million gallon Gulf Stream Exhibit.^[26] Also it included a 20 ft (6.1 m) x 30 ft (9.1 m) window of the new 550,000 gallon Gulf of Maine Exhibit. It was proposed to be finished in 2004, but was cancelled in after 9/11 due to the attendance dropping due to fear of bombing of crowd areas, the Big Dig project closing the Aquarium T stop, and the rising cost of the project up to $125 million. In order to pay back the money they raised, they had to have major cuts ($1.4 millions in debt), causing the aquarium to lose its accreditation in 2003. [2] However, now the aquarium is back on track financially and is doing very well.

The future

Cambridge Seven Associates is working with the museum on upgrades to the Giant Ocean Tank, as well as creating other exhibits.^[7]

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} "New England Aquarium". city-data.com. City Data.com. http://www.city-data.com/articles/The-New-England-Aquarium-Boston.html. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
2. ^ "About Us". neaq.org. New England Aquarium. http://www.neaq.org/about_us/index.php. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
3. ^ "List of Accredited Zoos and Aquariums". aza.org. AZA. http://www.aza.org/current-accreditation-list/. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
4. ^ "List of Accredited Museums". aam-us.org. American Association of Museums. http://www.aam-us.org/museumresources/accred/list.cfm?mode=search. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
5. ^ "Whale Watch". neaq.org. New England Aquarium. http://www.neaq.org/visit_planning/whale_watch/index.php. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
6. ^ "Peter Chermayeff, LLC". peterchermayeff.com. Peter Chermayeff, LLC. http://www.peterchermayeff.com. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "New England Aquarium in Boston, MA". c7a.com. Cambridge Seven Associates. http://www.c7a.com/Portfolio/aquariums/new_england_aquarium.asp?pos=0. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
8. ^ "Aquarium History". neaq.org. New England Aquarium. http://www.neaq.org/about_us/mission_and_vision/aquarium_history. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
9. ^ "Schwartz/Silver Architects". schwartzsilver.com. Schwartz/Silver Architects. http://www.schwartzsilver.com. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
10. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Aquarium History". neaq.org. New England Aquarium. http://www.neaq.org/about_us/mission_and_vision/aquarium_history/aquarium_timeline/. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
11. ^ "New England Aquarium IMAX Theater". vernerjohnson.com. E. Verner Johnson and Associates. http://www.vernerjohnson.com/pdf%20project%20pages/NEImax.pdf. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
12. ^ "Giant Ocean Tank". neaq.org. New England Aquarium. http://www.neaq.org/animals_and_exhibits/exhibits/individual_exhibits/giant_ocean_tank/index.php. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
13. ^ "Penguin Exhibit". neaq.org. New England Aquarium. http://www.neaq.org/animals_and_exhibits/exhibits/individual_exhibits/penguin_exhibit/index.php. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
14. ^ "Seadragons". neaq.org. New England Aquarium. http://www.neaq.org/animals_and_exhibits/exhibits/individual_exhibits/sea_dragons_exhibit/index.php. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
15. ^ "Edge of the Sea Touch Tank". neaq.org. New England Aquarium. http://www.neaq.org/animals_and_exhibits/exhibits/hands_on_areas_for_kids/edge_of_the_sea_touchtank.php. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
16. ^ "Atlantic Harbor Seals Exhibit". neaq.org. New England Aquarium. http://www.neaq.org/animals_and_exhibits/exhibits/individual_exhibits/harbor_seals_exhibit/index.php. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
17. ^ ^{a b} "Marine mammal Center". neaq.org. New England Aquarium. http://www.neaq.org/animals_and_exhibits/exhibits/individual_exhibits/new_balance_marine_mammal_center/index.php. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
18. ^ "Amazing Jellies". neaq.org. New England Aquarium. http://www.neaq.org/animals_and_exhibits/exhibits/individual_exhibits/amazing_jellies/index.php. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
19. ^ "Coming April 15, 2011: The Largest Shark and Ray Touch Tank on the East Coast". neaq.org. New England Aquarium. http://www.neaq.org/animals_and_exhibits/exhibits/individual_exhibits/shark_and_ray_touch_tank/index.php. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
20. ^ "Penguin Power". neaq.org. New England Aquarium. http://www.neaq.org/animals_and_exhibits/exhibits/whats_new_and_coming_soon/penguin_power/index.php. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
21. ^ "Half of world's turtles face extinction, scientists say". cnn.com (CNN). 27 August 1999. http://www.cnn.com/NATURE/9908/27/fresh.turtle.enn/index.html. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
22. ^ MacQuarrie, Brian (1 February 2010). "Dispensing turtle-loving care". boston.com (Boston Globe). http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2010/02/01/dispensing_turtle_loving_care. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
23. ^ "Rescuing Stranded Sea Turtles". neaq.org. New England Aquarium. http://www.neaq.org/conservation_and_research/projects/conservation_medicine/rescue_and_rehabilitation/turtle_rescue_program.php. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
24. ^ Clements, Joe (November 18, 1991), "New England Aquarium: move on hold", Boston Business Journal, http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-11803932/new-england-aquarium-move.html 
25. ^ New England Aquarium (1989). The New England aquarium, a report to Charlestown community. pp. 1–26. http://www.archive.org/stream/newenglandaquari1989newe#page/n19/mode/2up. 
26. ^ Lyons/Zaremba Inc.: New England Aquarium Expansion Master Plan, http://www.lyonszaremba.com/images/_pdfs/neae.pdf, retrieved 26 April 2011 

External links

Media related to New England Aquarium at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website