New England Aquarium - History

History

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. The Giant Ocean Tank opened in 1970, and at the time was the largest circular ocean tank in the world.

In 1974, a multi-storied ship, Discovery, was moored next to the Aquarium. It served as a floating mammal pavilion for the aquarium as the lack of land limited the aquarium's ability for expansion. This 1,000 seat observer stadium overlooked a 116,000 gallon pool. It hosted dolphins, until the mid-1990s, and sea lions, until the ship's retirement. Discovery was officially retired due its old age and high cost of maintain the ship in the mid-2000s.

In 1984, the Giant Ocean Tank was given a major facelift, with the addition of a replica of a Caribbean coral reef.

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.

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.

The 428 seat 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 is 85 feet wide by 65 feet high and its projector can show both 2D and 3D movies.

In 2003 the aquarium opened Amazing Jellies, a $1.9 million, twelve tank jellyfish 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.

In 2010, the Animal Care Center opened. This 23,000 sq.ft. off-site facility in Quincy, MA, includes holding space for animals during exhibit renovations, quarantine space for new arrivals and is home to the marine animal rescue and rehabilitation center.