New England Aquarium
Encyclopedia
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. 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
.
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.
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.
In 1999 the aquarium opened a new rehabilitation center for harbor porpoises in Duxbury, Massachusetts. The facility includes a 29000 gal rehabilitation tank that can house three porpoises at a time.
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.
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.
Located in the central open atrium of the main building, the principal feature of the Aquarium is the Giant Ocean Tank, a cylindrical 200000 gal tank simulating a Caribbean coral reef
. This tank houses shark
s, sea turtle
s, stingray
s, 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.
At the bottom, the tank stands in a large, square 150000 gal penguin
exhibit, hosting African penguin
s, Northern and Southern rockhopper penguin
s and little blue penguin
s. 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.
Surrounding the atrium are three levels of smaller exhibits including:
In front of the Aquarium is a harbor seal
exhibit. It can be seen for free without going into the building. Seven Northern fur seal
s 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
. All the New England Aquarium's marine mammal
s 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 nettle
s, upside-down jellies
, Palauan Lagoon jellies and Australian spotted jellies
, all from diverse habitats around the world. In 2011, the Trust Family Foundation Shark and Ray Touch Tank opened in the West Wing. At 25000 gal, it is the largest on the east coast. Some of the species in the exhibit include cownose ray
s, yellow rays and chain dog fish. It is a permanent exhibit that will allow for more interaction between the animals and the visitors.
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.
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 seal
s 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.
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.
Sharks and Rays
A temporary touch tank in 2008, home to southern stingray
s, cownose ray
s, yellow stingray
s and coral catshark
s,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.
Twice a day the Aquariums staff feed the penguins herring in the Penguin exhibits.
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.
This is when the Aquariums divers would hand feed the animals in the 200,000 gallon tank.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The project was to cost $150 million dollars and was to take up 278300 square feet (25,854.9 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. 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 - 90000 sq ft (8,361.3 m²). expansion costing $43 million dollars including a 1.1 million gallon Gulf Stream Exhibit. 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. http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/2408746/detail.html However, now the aquarium is back on track financially and is doing very well.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
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. 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
Cambridge Seven Associates
Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc. is an American architecture firm founded in 1962 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The firm was founded upon the idea that the collaborative efforts of a varied group of designers and architects would be far more effective than those of any one individual...
.
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.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.
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.
In 1999 the aquarium opened a new rehabilitation center for harbor porpoises in Duxbury, Massachusetts. The facility includes a 29000 gal rehabilitation tank that can house three porpoises at a time.
The Matthew and Marcia Simons IMAX
IMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
® 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.
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
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums was founded in 1924 and is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and public aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.The AZA headquarters is located in Silver...
(AZA).
In 2009, the New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center opens. This open-air exhibit lets visitors view the aquarium's Northern fur seals.
Exhibits
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
. This tank houses shark
Shark
Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
s, sea turtle
Sea turtle
Sea turtles are marine reptiles that inhabit all of the world's oceans except the Arctic.-Distribution:...
s, stingray
Stingray
The stingrays are a group of rays, which are cartilaginous fishes related to sharks. They are classified in the suborder Myliobatoidei of the order Myliobatiformes, and consist of eight families: Hexatrygonidae , Plesiobatidae , Urolophidae , Urotrygonidae , Dasyatidae , Potamotrygonidae The...
s, eels, barracuda
Barracuda
The barracuda is a ray-finned fish known for its large size and fearsome appearance. Its body is long, fairly compressed, and covered with small, smooth scales. Some species could reach up to 1.8m in length and 30 cm in width...
, and many smaller reef-living fish. Open at the top, the concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
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.
At the bottom, the tank stands in a large, square 150000 gal penguin
Penguin
Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers...
exhibit, hosting African penguin
African Penguin
The African Penguin , also known as the Black-footed Penguin is a species of penguin, confined to southern African waters. It is known as Brilpikkewyn in Afrikaans, Inguza or Unombombiya in Xhosa, Manchot Du Cap in French and Pingüino Del Cabo in Spanish...
s, Northern and Southern rockhopper penguin
Rockhopper penguin
The rockhopper penguins are three closely related taxa of crested penguins that have been traditionally treated as a single species and are sometimes split into two or three species. Not all experts agree on the classification of these penguins...
s and little blue penguin
Little Penguin
The Little Penguin is the smallest species of penguin. The penguin, which usually grows to an average of in height and in length , is found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand, with possible records from Chile.Apart from Little Penguins, they have several common names...
s. 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.
- The Thinking Gallery, also known as the Temperate Gallery, featuring Goliath grouperGoliath grouperThe Atlantic goliath grouper or itajara , commonly known as the Jewfish is a large saltwater fish of the grouper family found primarily in shallow tropical waters among coral and artificial reefs at depths anywhere from 15 to 165 feet...
, ancient fishes, rare sea dragons, 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 piranhasPiranhasPiranhas is a historic city and municipality in the western of the State of Alagoas, in the Northeast Region of Brazil. Located on the bank of the São Francisco River, just at the border with the State of Sergipe, Piranhas was founded in 1891 and originally named Floriano Peixoto...
, anacondas, electric eels, and Atlantic salmonAtlantic salmonThe Atlantic salmon is a species of fish in the family Salmonidae, which is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean and in rivers that flow into the north Atlantic and the north Pacific....
. - The Edge of the Sea tide poolTide poolTide pools are rocky pools by oceans that are filled with seawater. Many of these pools exist as separate entities only at low tide.Tide pools are habitats of uniquely adaptable animals that have engaged the special attention of naturalists and marine biologists, as well as philosophical...
. Visitors are allowed to touch New England tide pool animals including sea starSea starStarfish or sea stars are echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea. The names "starfish" and "sea star" essentially refer to members of the class Asteroidea...
s, sea urchinSea urchinSea urchins or urchins are small, spiny, globular animals which, with their close kin, such as sand dollars, constitute the class Echinoidea of the echinoderm phylum. They inhabit all oceans. Their shell, or "test", is round and spiny, typically from across. Common colors include black and dull...
s, snailSnailSnail is a common name applied to most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in its most general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. The word snail without any qualifier is however more often...
s, hermit crabHermit crabHermit crabs are decapod crustaceans of the superfamily Paguroidea. Most of the 1100 species possess an asymmetrical abdomen which is concealed in an empty gastropod shell that is carried around by the hermit crab.-Description:...
s, and horseshoe crabHorseshoe crabThe Atlantic horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, is a marine chelicerate arthropod. Despite its name, it is more closely related to spiders, ticks, and scorpions than to crabs. Horseshoe crabs are most commonly found in the Gulf of Mexico and along the northern Atlantic coast of North America...
s.
- The Northern Waters of the World Gallery focuses on New England marine habitats compared to Pacific Northwest habitats. The gallery features shorebirds, colored lobsters, goosefishGoosefishMonkfish are a family, Lophiidae, of anglerfishes. They are found in the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans where they live on sandy and muddy bottoms of the continental shelf and continental slope, at depths in excess of ....
, Giant Pacific Octopus, and countless other invertebrates. - The Tropical Gallery features many colorful tropical fish, cuttlefish, venomous fish including lionfishPteroisPterois is a genus of venomous marine fish found mostly in the Indo-Pacific, known collectively as the lionfish. Pterois is characterized by red, white and black stripes, showy pectoral fins and venomous spiky tentacles. Pterois are classified into fifteen different species, but Pterois radiata,...
, scorpionfishScorpionfishScorpaenidae, the scorpionfish, are a family of mostly marine fish that includes many of the world's most venomous species. As the name suggests, scorpionfish have a type of "sting" in the form of sharp spines coated with venomous mucus. The family is a large one, with hundreds of members. They are...
, 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
Harbor Seal
The harbor seal , also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere...
exhibit. It can be seen for free without going into the building. Seven Northern fur seal
Northern Fur Seal
The Northern fur seal is an eared seal found along the north Pacific Ocean, the Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk. It is the largest member of the fur seal subfamily and the only species in the genus Callorhinus.-Physical description:Northern fur seals have extreme sexual dimorphism, with males...
s 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
Boston Harbor
Boston Harbor is a natural harbor and estuary of Massachusetts Bay, and is located adjacent to the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is home to the Port of Boston, a major shipping facility in the northeast.-History:...
. All the New England Aquarium's marine mammal
Marine mammal
Marine mammals, which include seals, whales, dolphins, and walruses, form a diverse group of 128 species that rely on the ocean for their existence. They do not represent a distinct biological grouping, but rather are unified by their reliance on the marine environment for feeding. The level of...
s participate in daily training sessions that are open for public viewing and participation.
The Amazing Jellies exhibit in the West Wing features moon jellies
Aurelia aurita
Aurelia aurita is one of a group of more than ten morphologically nearly identical jellyfish species in the genus Aurelia...
, sea nettle
Sea nettle
Chrysaora quinquecirrha is a species of jellyfish that inhabits Atlantic estuaries, such as the Chesapeake Bay...
s, upside-down jellies
Cassiopea
The Cassiopea jellyfish belongs to the Order Rhizostomeae and mostly lives in sandy areas and seagrass beds. The Cassiopea jellyfish is also called "Upside Down Jellyfish", because it lies on its back, so that the bell touches the ground. In this position it resembles a sea anemone...
, Palauan Lagoon jellies and Australian spotted jellies
Phyllorhiza punctata
Phyllorhiza punctata is a species of jellyfish, also known as the Australian spotted jellyfish or the White-spotted jellyfish. It is native to the southwestern Pacific, where it feeds primarily on zooplankton. P. punctata average 45-50 cm in bell diameter but there had been a maximum reported size...
, all from diverse habitats around the world. In 2011, the Trust Family Foundation Shark and Ray Touch Tank opened in the West Wing. At 25000 gal, it is the largest on the east coast. Some of the species in the exhibit include cownose ray
Cownose ray
The cownose ray is a species of eagle ray found throughout a large part of the western Atlantic and Caribbean, from New England, USA to southern Brazil. Cownose rays grow rapidly, and male rays often reach about in width and weigh . Females typically reach in width and weigh .-Gestation:The...
s, yellow rays and chain dog fish. It is a permanent exhibit that will allow for more interaction between the animals and the visitors.
Special exhibits
Penguin PowerFocusing 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.
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 seal
Northern Fur Seal
The Northern fur seal is an eared seal found along the north Pacific Ocean, the Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk. It is the largest member of the fur seal subfamily and the only species in the genus Callorhinus.-Physical description:Northern fur seals have extreme sexual dimorphism, with males...
s 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.
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.
A temporary touch tank in 2008, home to southern stingray
Southern stingray
The southern stingray, Dasyatis americana, is a stingray of the family Dasyatidae found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Western Atlantic Ocean from New Jersey to Brazil. It has a flat, diamond-shaped disc, with a mud brown, olive, and grey dorsal surface and white underbelly...
s, cownose ray
Cownose ray
The cownose ray is a species of eagle ray found throughout a large part of the western Atlantic and Caribbean, from New England, USA to southern Brazil. Cownose rays grow rapidly, and male rays often reach about in width and weigh . Females typically reach in width and weigh .-Gestation:The...
s, yellow stingray
Yellow stingray
The yellow stingray is a species of stingray in the family Urotrygonidae, found in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to Trinidad. This bottom-dwelling species inhabits sandy, muddy, or seagrass bottoms in shallow inshore waters, commonly near coral reefs...
s and coral catshark
Coral catshark
The coral catshark is a species of catshark, family Scyliorhinidae. It is common on shallow coral reefs across the Indo-West Pacific, from Pakistan to New Guinea. Reaching in length, the coral catshark has an extremely slender body, a short head and tail, and two dorsal fins that are angled...
s,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.
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 WharfLong Wharf (Boston)
Long Wharf in Boston, Massachusetts "was the busiest pier in the busiest port in America during early colonial times." It extended nearly a half-mile into the harbor, beginning from State Street...
and the Rose Kennedy Greenway
Rose Kennedy Greenway
The Rose Kennedy Greenway is a roughly 1.5-mile-long long series of parks and public spaces being created in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, USA. It is the final part of the Big Dig that put Interstate 93 underground and removed the elevated freeway that served as the main highway through downtown...
. The nearest subway
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
stop is Aquarium Station
Aquarium (MBTA station)
Aquarium Station of the MBTA, is a station on the Blue Line, serving the New England Aquarium and Boston's Financial District. The station has high vaulted ceilings similar to stations of the Paris and Washington Metros. Above ground, the exits are located in the Financial District at Atlantic...
on the MBTA's Blue Line
Blue Line (MBTA)
The Blue Line is one of four subway lines of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority serving Downtown, East Boston and the North Shore. It runs from northeast to southwest, extending from Wonderland station in Revere, Massachusetts to Bowdoin station near Beacon Hill in Boston...
, but the aquarium is a short walk from the Haymarket Station
Haymarket (MBTA station)
Haymarket is a MBTA station on the Green and Orange lines, located at the corner of Congress and New Sudbury Street. Transfer between the Green and Orange Lines is possible here, although the adjacent North Station may be more convenient for some cross-platform transfers.Originally, the Orange...
on the Orange
Orange Line (MBTA)
The Orange Line is one of the four subway lines of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. It extends from Forest Hills in Jamaica Plain, Boston in the south to Oak Grove in Malden, Massachusetts in the north. It meets the Red Line at Downtown Crossing, the Blue Line at State, and the Green...
and the Green
Green Line (MBTA)
The Green Line is a streetcar system run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in the Boston, Massachusetts area of the United States. It is the oldest line of Boston's subway, which is known locally as the 'T'. The Green Line runs underground downtown and on the surface in outlying...
Lines. The Aquarium is within walking distance of the North End, Government Center
Government Center, Boston, Massachusetts
Government Center is an area in downtown Boston, bounded by Cambridge, Court, Congress, and Sudbury Streets. Formerly the site of Scollay Square, it is now the location of Boston City Hall, two Suffolk County courthouses, two state office buildings, and two federal office buildings, a major MBTA...
, and the Financial District.
Conservation
The aquarium staff often participates in rescue efforts for stranded marine mammals and sea turtles.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).The project was to cost $150 million dollars and was to take up 278300 square feet (25,854.9 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. 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 - 90000 sq ft (8,361.3 m²). expansion costing $43 million dollars including a 1.1 million gallon Gulf Stream Exhibit. 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. http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/2408746/detail.html However, now the aquarium is back on track financially and is doing very well.