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apollonaut. Built by People Who've Been

Journal / History

History, ocean life & heritage

An aquarium on the wharf.
Since 1969.

The story of the New England Aquarium, from a concrete building on Central Wharf to the Giant Ocean Tank at its heart.

The New England Aquarium’s angled steel canopy and glass entrance on the brick plaza of Central Wharf
The New England Aquarium on Central Wharf, Boston.

A building on Central Wharf

Planning for the aquarium began in 1962, and it opened on Central Wharf beside Boston Harbor on 20 June 1969. Its concrete building was designed by Peter Chermayeff of Cambridge Seven Associates.

The New England Aquarium on the waterfront, seen across Boston Harbor past moored sailing boats
Visitors on the concrete walkway that spirals around the Giant Ocean Tank, looking through its windows

The Giant Ocean Tank

The cylindrical Giant Ocean Tank opened in 1970. Holding 200,000 US gallons and recreating a Caribbean coral reef, it is viewed through 67 windows from a walkway that spirals around it. It reopened in 2013 after upgrades that expanded the reef.

A growing aquarium

The Simons Theatre opened on the wharf in 2001, the shark and ray touch tank became permanent in 2011, and the Marine Mammal Center, home to sea lions and fur seals, opened in 2009. The aquarium is a non-profit organisation, and its Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life studies the North Atlantic right whale.

Cownose rays gliding over the sand of the shark and ray touch tank

Continue exploring

Looking down into the coral reef from the top of the Giant Ocean TankThe Giant Ocean TankA reef in the city.Two African penguins standing on the rocks above the turquoise water of the penguin poolWhat to seePenguins, rays and jellies.Plan your visit

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