Public Aquariums in Northeast USA
Public aquariums make an ideal vacation destination or educational outing. This list covers public aquariums and exhibits located in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont. If you know of a public aquarium in these states that is not listed here, please send an email to: freshaquarium@aboutguide.com
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is unique in that it focuses solely on one body of water, Long Island Sound. The Aquarium features over a thousand marine animals that are native to the Sound and its watershed. They offer a number of special exhibits, some of which are non-aquatic, such as a Meerkat exhibit. The facility also features an IMAX theater and study cruises for the public as well as schools.
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Mystic Aquarium offers a variety of interesting exhibits, that include everything from birds to penguins to beluga whales.They also offer educational programs geared for specific age groups, and include lots of hands-on opportunities in their programs. A great resource for teaching and vacationing alike. Open year round, closing only on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
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The Maine State Aquarium is relatively new public aquarium, having been completed in 1995. It focuses on education, and is patterened after the rocky cost of the state of Maine.Exhibits include fish and inverts from the local area, including a fascinating exhibit featuring various color morphs of lobsters.Tide pooling classes as well as sport fishing clinics are offered, along with special events throughout the year. Teachers have a number of options to utilize the facilities for classroom and field trips.
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The Berkshire Museum Aquarium features over two dozen species of live corals, as well as a number of other exhibits that are geared towards education.Located in downtown Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the aquarium is housed in the lower level of the museum. There are a number of educational programs offered, and the facility is open year round.
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Located in Boston, the New England Aquarium is home to well over a million visitors annually.Open year round they focus on ocean exploration and marine conservation, offering a large variety of exhibits, including an IMAX theater. The website is just as good, with webcams, virtual tours, and educational information.
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A small, public aquarium that is free to the public. Although many aquariums in the United States lay claim to being the oldest, Woods Hole has the best claim, dating back to 1875. Their exhibits include approximately 140 species of marine animals found in Northeast and Middle Atlantic waters. They have some excellent activity sheets on their site that are a great resource for teachers.
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The Seacoast Science Center is located in beautiful Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, New Hampshire. The focus of the center is on personal learning experiences in the natural sciences. The Gregg Interactive Learning Studio opened in 2007, offering distance learning across the country, something well worth considering if you are a teacher. The Center is particularly committed to ocean literacy, which shows in the program offerings.
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Open 365 days a year, Adventure Aquarium prides itself on being the most touchable aquarium in the United States. Located on the Camden, New Jersey waterfront, they have over 2 million gallons of water and 8,500 animals. They are the only aquarium in the world to exhibit hippos and one of only two aquariums in the country to exhibit a Hammerhead Shark.
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Located on the boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, Jenkinson’s Aquarium exhibits include Atlantic sharks, Pacific sharks, coral reefs, penguins, alligators and seals. Open year round, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. They offer group rates for schools, scouts, churches, camps and other organizations. Summer camps are offered each year, in addition to monthly family educational programs.
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•Connecticut - The Maritime Aquarium
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is unique in that it focuses solely on one body of water, Long Island Sound. The Aquarium features over a thousand marine animals that are native to the Sound and its watershed. They offer a number of special exhibits, some of which are non-aquatic, such as a Meerkat exhibit. The facility also features an IMAX theater and study cruises for the public as well as schools.
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•Connecticut - Mystic Aquarium
Mystic Aquarium offers a variety of interesting exhibits, that include everything from birds to penguins to beluga whales.They also offer educational programs geared for specific age groups, and include lots of hands-on opportunities in their programs. A great resource for teaching and vacationing alike. Open year round, closing only on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
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•Maine - Maine State Aquarium
The Maine State Aquarium is relatively new public aquarium, having been completed in 1995. It focuses on education, and is patterened after the rocky cost of the state of Maine.Exhibits include fish and inverts from the local area, including a fascinating exhibit featuring various color morphs of lobsters.Tide pooling classes as well as sport fishing clinics are offered, along with special events throughout the year. Teachers have a number of options to utilize the facilities for classroom and field trips.
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•Massachusetts - The Berkshire Museum
The Berkshire Museum Aquarium features over two dozen species of live corals, as well as a number of other exhibits that are geared towards education.Located in downtown Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the aquarium is housed in the lower level of the museum. There are a number of educational programs offered, and the facility is open year round.
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•Massachusetts - Maria Mitchell Association Aquarium
Located on the shores of Nantucket Harbor, the Maria Mitchell Association was founded over one hundred years ago to honor Maria Mitchell and further her love of "learning by doing".Open only seasonally, the aquarium exhibits change regularly and to teach visitors about the animals living on the beaches of Nantucket and the surrounding harbor. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.More »•Massachusetts - New England Aquarium
Located in Boston, the New England Aquarium is home to well over a million visitors annually.Open year round they focus on ocean exploration and marine conservation, offering a large variety of exhibits, including an IMAX theater. The website is just as good, with webcams, virtual tours, and educational information.
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•Massachusetts - Woods Hole Science Aquarium
A small, public aquarium that is free to the public. Although many aquariums in the United States lay claim to being the oldest, Woods Hole has the best claim, dating back to 1875. Their exhibits include approximately 140 species of marine animals found in Northeast and Middle Atlantic waters. They have some excellent activity sheets on their site that are a great resource for teachers.
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•New Hampshire - Seacoast Science Center
The Seacoast Science Center is located in beautiful Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, New Hampshire. The focus of the center is on personal learning experiences in the natural sciences. The Gregg Interactive Learning Studio opened in 2007, offering distance learning across the country, something well worth considering if you are a teacher. The Center is particularly committed to ocean literacy, which shows in the program offerings.
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•New Jersey - Adventure Aquarium
Open 365 days a year, Adventure Aquarium prides itself on being the most touchable aquarium in the United States. Located on the Camden, New Jersey waterfront, they have over 2 million gallons of water and 8,500 animals. They are the only aquarium in the world to exhibit hippos and one of only two aquariums in the country to exhibit a Hammerhead Shark.
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•New Jersey - Jenkinson's Aquarium
Located on the boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, Jenkinson’s Aquarium exhibits include Atlantic sharks, Pacific sharks, coral reefs, penguins, alligators and seals. Open year round, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. They offer group rates for schools, scouts, churches, camps and other organizations. Summer camps are offered each year, in addition to monthly family educational programs.
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