The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago is visited by up to 2 million people annually. This is the first public aquarium in the United States with a permanent collection of marine life. Along with the Field Museum of Natural History Planetarium, it is part of the Chicago Museum Campus.
History of creation
The indoor public aquarium was opened on the initiative of the head of one of the largest trading companies, John Graves Shedd. The businessman wanted to donate an aquarium to the city, but did not live to see the completion of a large-scale project. He saw the first sketches and believed in success, today it is one of the most famous aquariums both in the USA and abroad.
The foundation of the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago was laid in 1927, and construction work took 2 years. The opening ceremony was held in the spring of 1930, and the widow of businessman Mary Shedd was invited to it. At first, the complex consisted of more than 130 exhibition tanks. It took about 20 tanks with 1 million gallons of seawater to fill them. The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago has been officially designated a National Historic Landmark. In 1991, the marble aquarium was built, and in 2003, the Wild Reef opened near the southern terrace.
Short description
Since the opening, the aquarium's area has almost doubled to 40,000 square meters. This allowed us to have large exhibits, including sharks and rays. The collection of the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago includes 1,500 species of fish, marine mammals, snakes, birds, amphibians, and insects. 5 expositions have been prepared for visitors:
- The aquarium is considered to be the largest indoor facility on Earth for keeping marine mammals. It has become home to belugas, Pacific white-sided dolphins, sea otters, and sea lions. An amphitheater with 1,000 seats was opened for the audience, where the shows take place.
- The Amazon sunrise immerses you in the atmosphere of forests and jungles that surround the largest river in South America. There are 250 species of marine animals, including crocodiles, anacondas, stingrays, and piranhas.
- The miracle of water was replaced in 2024 by the Caribbean Reef, discovered in 1971. A diver works here, interacting with animals and communicating with visitors. Part of the exposition is presented in the form of a round tank with a volume of 340,000 liters, which can be viewed from all sides. Schooling fish swim, a sea turtle named Nickel lives, which was rescued in Florida, as well as parrot fish, goblin sharks, green moray eels, and so on.
- The waters of the world allow guests of the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago to observe starfish and ice skates, squid, iguanas, sturgeons, octopuses, and Nile crocodiles.
- The Wild Reef is organized on the basis of the aquarium's main collection, where you can see live corals, various species of sharks, and a mock-up of a Filipino fishing village.
The staff organizes educational, interactive shows, and special performances are prepared for young visitors. There are children's areas and pools for them, where they talk about marine biology in a playful format, and how important it is to protect nature. A 4D cinema is also popular, where films with interactive elements are shown, for example, in the form of water bubbles. Kids love watching the SpongeBob SquarePants adventure series.
How to get
Bus No. 146 stops at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. If it is more convenient to travel by train, you need to go to Roosevelt station. You have to walk 20 minutes from it or take a bus. You can also rent a car or use taxi services.
When planning a trip to a public aquarium, it is recommended to check the schedule on the attraction's website. For now, we can focus on the approved schedule: usually on weekdays – From 9.00 to 17.00, but in summer, the closure takes place at 18.00. On weekends, guests are welcome from 9.00 to 18.00. The schedule may change, so information about visiting hours should be updated. Please note that ticket sales end 45 minutes before closing time. To avoid waiting in line, you can buy them online.
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