Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Encyclopedia
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is an aquarium
in San Pedro
, California
, United States, a community within Los Angeles
. It concentrates on the marine life of Southern California. In addition to its displays, it also offers school and group programs.
The aquarium is operated by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.
Admission is free, but donations are suggested.
The building was designed by Frank Gehry
and completed in 1981.
, captain of the Cabrillo Beach lifeguards, was appointed director of the new Marine Museum. He popularized the aquarium by giving impromptu tours to visiting school groups as well as starting the popular evening program of viewing and learning about the bizarre grunion
mating practices on the beach.
On October 21, 1981, the new $3 million, Frank Gehry
-designed museum was opened to the public and the old museum closed. Throughout the 1990s, the museum experienced significant growth and its name was changed from the Cabrillo Marine Museum to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium to highlight its living collections. It expanded its public programs sector and added Ocean Outreach, Sea Rangers, Discovery Labs, and FRIENDS of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. In 2004, the building was expanded further with an Exploration Center, the S. Mark Taper Foundation Courtyard, an Aquatic Nursery, and the Virginia Reed Moore Research Library. In October 2010, it celebrated its 75 year anniversary.
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
in San Pedro
San Pedro, Los Angeles, California
San Pedro is a port district of the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. It was annexed in 1909 and is a major seaport of the area...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States, a community within Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. It concentrates on the marine life of Southern California. In addition to its displays, it also offers school and group programs.
The aquarium is operated by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.
Admission is free, but donations are suggested.
The building was designed by Frank Gehry
Frank Gehry
Frank Owen Gehry, is a Canadian American Pritzker Prize-winning architect based in Los Angeles, California.His buildings, including his private residence, have become tourist attractions...
and completed in 1981.
History
The aquarium started in 1935 as a curated collection of marine specimens stored in the Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse. In 1949, John OlguinJohn Olguin
John Main Olguin was an American aquarium official who served as the museum director of the Cabrillo Marine Museum, which has since been renamed the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, from 1949 until 1987, when he became director emeritus...
, captain of the Cabrillo Beach lifeguards, was appointed director of the new Marine Museum. He popularized the aquarium by giving impromptu tours to visiting school groups as well as starting the popular evening program of viewing and learning about the bizarre grunion
Grunion
Grunion are two fish species of the genus Leuresthes: the California grunion, L. tenuis, and the Gulf grunion L. sardinas...
mating practices on the beach.
On October 21, 1981, the new $3 million, Frank Gehry
Frank Gehry
Frank Owen Gehry, is a Canadian American Pritzker Prize-winning architect based in Los Angeles, California.His buildings, including his private residence, have become tourist attractions...
-designed museum was opened to the public and the old museum closed. Throughout the 1990s, the museum experienced significant growth and its name was changed from the Cabrillo Marine Museum to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium to highlight its living collections. It expanded its public programs sector and added Ocean Outreach, Sea Rangers, Discovery Labs, and FRIENDS of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. In 2004, the building was expanded further with an Exploration Center, the S. Mark Taper Foundation Courtyard, an Aquatic Nursery, and the Virginia Reed Moore Research Library. In October 2010, it celebrated its 75 year anniversary.