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Belle Isle Aquarium

January 01, 1970

The Belle Isle Aquarium is a public aquarium located in Belle Isle Park in Detroit, Michigan. Designed by noted architects George D. Mason and Albert Kahn,[5] it opened on August 18, 1904, and was the oldest continually operating public aquarium in North America when it closed on April 3, 2005.[2] The aquarium reopened to the public on August 18, 2012, and is now run entirely by Belle Isle Conservancy, a 501(c)3 non-profit partner to Belle Isle park.[6] The 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) historic building features a single large gallery with an arched ceiling covered in green glass tile to evoke an underwater feeling.[1][7]

Belle Isle Aquarium
42°20′11.79″N 82°59′7.27″W / 42.3366083°N 82.9853528°W / 42.3366083; -82.9853528
Date openedAugust 18, 1904;[1]
August 18, 2012 (reopened)
Location3 Inselruhe Avenue
Belle Isle Park
Detroit, Michigan
Floor space10,000 sq ft (930 m2)
No. of animals1500 (2005)[2]
No. of species146 (2005)[2]
Total volume of tanks32,000 US gal (120,000 L; 27,000 imp gal)[3]
Annual visitors113,000 (1995), 56,000 (2004)[4]
Websitebelleisleconservancy.org

The aquarium was operated by the Detroit Zoological Society prior to the 2005 closure. It is currently operated by the Belle Isle Conservancy.

History edit

 
Postcard c.1940s

The Belle Isle Aquarium opened on 18 August 1904. According to the address given at the opening ceremony, when it opened it was the third largest aquarium in the world. When it opened it held a total of 65,007 US gallons (246,080 L) of water.[8]

The aquarium basement served as a speakeasy during Prohibition and later held large fish which no longer fit the Belle Isle Zoo's gallery tanks. Closed circuit television allowed remote viewing of these fish. The aquarium was slightly remodeled in the 1950s.

Attendance was on a declining trend in the final decade of its first run: 113,000 visitors toured the aquarium in 1995, but only 56,000 in 2004.[4]

On 14 January 2005, the city of Detroit announced that the aquarium would be closed to save $530,000 annually, with the staff being reassigned to the Detroit Zoo or the Belle Isle Zoo, and the fish transferred to other aquariums.[3] It was originally scheduled to close on March 1.[9] Although an extension was granted to the Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium to come up with a fund raising plan,[10] the aquarium was closed on April 3, 2005.[4]

On August 3, 2005, Detroit citizens voted to reopen the aquarium by an overwhelming margin (88% in favor, 12% opposed).[11] However, the vote was non-binding and the aquarium remained closed. In 2010, supporters of the aquarium were still trying to find donors to help defray the building's operating costs.[11]

Although the building was closed between 2005 and 2012, goldfish and koi from an outside pond were housed in the aquarium during the winter.[11] Each year in February, the aquarium opened for a day for the annual "Shiver on the River,"[11] a fund raising event to promote public support of Belle Isle non-profit groups including the Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium.[2]

On 14 August 2012, The Belle Isle Conservancy, a non-profit volunteer group established in 2011 from the merger of the Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium and other Belle Isle non-profit groups, announced the re-opening of the aquarium on a limited basis. The aquarium was reopened on 18 August 2012, the 108th anniversary of its opening. [12] The Aquarium now operates with free public admission, welcoming visitors Friday-Sunday from 10am - 4pm, thanks to community funding and the efforts of Belle Isle Conservancy.

Animals edit

 
Interior of the aquarium, with its single green-tile curved ceiling gallery
 
Two rays at the Belle Isle Aquarium

In 2005, the aquarium had 60 exhibits with a total tank volume of 32,000 U.S. gallons (120,000 L; 27,000 imp gal),[3] and was home to over 1,500 fish of 146 species.[2] The aquarium largely featured freshwater species native to the Great Lakes region, but also had salt-water species from around the world. Currently the aquarium over 200 species of aquatic animals.

The aquarium made news in 2002 when one of its female white-spotted bamboo sharks gave birth to two young despite not having been near a male in six years, in a suspected rare case of parthenogenesis.[13]

Conservation edit

There are several species at the Aquarium that are critically endangered or extinct in the wild. The Belle Isle Aquarium offers various education programs focused on water and environmental conservation that serve both students and educators from the elementary to university levels. The Aquarium has a formal partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to assist with repopulating sturgeon in the Detroit River. Additionally, Aquarium staff administers frog and mudpuppy studies on the island which help indicate the health of its ecosystems. The Keep Belle Isle Beautiful anti-litter initiative also launches from the Aquarium.


References edit

  1. ^ a b . belleisleaquarium.com. Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium. Archived from the original on 14 March 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Belle Isle Aquarium". detroitarmy.com. Detroit Army. from the original on 30 April 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  3. ^ a b c . clickondetroit.com. Click On Detroit. 14 January 2005. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  4. ^ a b c . clickondetroit.com. Click On Detroit. 4 March 2005. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  5. ^ Burton, Clarence Monroe (1922). The City of Detroit, 1701 -1922, Volume 1. p. 416. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  6. ^ (PDF). belleisleconservancy.org. Belle Isle Conservancy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Palmer Woods Resolution". belleisleaquarium.com. Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  8. ^ "One of Best in the World". Detroit Free Press. 19 August 1904. Retrieved 14 January 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ . clickondetroit.com. Click On Detroit. 21 February 2005. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  10. ^ . clickondetroit.com. Click On Detroit. 23 February 2005. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  11. ^ a b c d "Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium". belleisleaquarium.com. Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium. from the original on 30 May 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  12. ^ Satyanarayana, Megha (September 16, 2012). "A landmark reborn: Belle Isle Aquarium reopens to thousands". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  13. ^ Mayell, Hillary (September 26, 2002). . nationalgeographic.com. National Geographic News. Archived from the original on September 29, 2002. Retrieved 14 May 2010.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Belle Isle Aquarium.
  • Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium
  • Friends of Belle Isle
  • Inside the Belle Isle Aquarium at Detroiturbex.com
  • Historic Detroit — Belle Isle Aquarium

January 01, 1970
belle, isle, aquarium, public, aquarium, located, belle, isle, park, detroit, michigan, designed, noted, architects, george, mason, albert, kahn, opened, august, 1904, oldest, continually, operating, public, aquarium, north, america, when, closed, april, 2005,. The Belle Isle Aquarium is a public aquarium located in Belle Isle Park in Detroit Michigan Designed by noted architects George D Mason and Albert Kahn 5 it opened on August 18 1904 and was the oldest continually operating public aquarium in North America when it closed on April 3 2005 2 The aquarium reopened to the public on August 18 2012 and is now run entirely by Belle Isle Conservancy a 501 c 3 non profit partner to Belle Isle park 6 The 10 000 square foot 930 m2 historic building features a single large gallery with an arched ceiling covered in green glass tile to evoke an underwater feeling 1 7 Belle Isle Aquarium42 20 11 79 N 82 59 7 27 W 42 3366083 N 82 9853528 W 42 3366083 82 9853528Date openedAugust 18 1904 1 August 18 2012 reopened Location3 Inselruhe Avenue Belle Isle Park Detroit MichiganFloor space10 000 sq ft 930 m2 No of animals1500 2005 2 No of species146 2005 2 Total volume of tanks32 000 US gal 120 000 L 27 000 imp gal 3 Annual visitors113 000 1995 56 000 2004 4 Websitebelleisleconservancy wbr org The aquarium was operated by the Detroit Zoological Society prior to the 2005 closure It is currently operated by the Belle Isle Conservancy Contents 1 History 2 Animals 3 Conservation 4 References 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp Postcard c 1940s The Belle Isle Aquarium opened on 18 August 1904 According to the address given at the opening ceremony when it opened it was the third largest aquarium in the world When it opened it held a total of 65 007 US gallons 246 080 L of water 8 The aquarium basement served as a speakeasy during Prohibition and later held large fish which no longer fit the Belle Isle Zoo s gallery tanks Closed circuit television allowed remote viewing of these fish The aquarium was slightly remodeled in the 1950s Attendance was on a declining trend in the final decade of its first run 113 000 visitors toured the aquarium in 1995 but only 56 000 in 2004 4 On 14 January 2005 the city of Detroit announced that the aquarium would be closed to save 530 000 annually with the staff being reassigned to the Detroit Zoo or the Belle Isle Zoo and the fish transferred to other aquariums 3 It was originally scheduled to close on March 1 9 Although an extension was granted to the Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium to come up with a fund raising plan 10 the aquarium was closed on April 3 2005 4 On August 3 2005 Detroit citizens voted to reopen the aquarium by an overwhelming margin 88 in favor 12 opposed 11 However the vote was non binding and the aquarium remained closed In 2010 supporters of the aquarium were still trying to find donors to help defray the building s operating costs 11 Although the building was closed between 2005 and 2012 goldfish and koi from an outside pond were housed in the aquarium during the winter 11 Each year in February the aquarium opened for a day for the annual Shiver on the River 11 a fund raising event to promote public support of Belle Isle non profit groups including the Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium 2 On 14 August 2012 The Belle Isle Conservancy a non profit volunteer group established in 2011 from the merger of the Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium and other Belle Isle non profit groups announced the re opening of the aquarium on a limited basis The aquarium was reopened on 18 August 2012 the 108th anniversary of its opening 12 The Aquarium now operates with free public admission welcoming visitors Friday Sunday from 10am 4pm thanks to community funding and the efforts of Belle Isle Conservancy Animals edit nbsp Interior of the aquarium with its single green tile curved ceiling gallery nbsp Two rays at the Belle Isle Aquarium In 2005 the aquarium had 60 exhibits with a total tank volume of 32 000 U S gallons 120 000 L 27 000 imp gal 3 and was home to over 1 500 fish of 146 species 2 The aquarium largely featured freshwater species native to the Great Lakes region but also had salt water species from around the world Currently the aquarium over 200 species of aquatic animals The aquarium made news in 2002 when one of its female white spotted bamboo sharks gave birth to two young despite not having been near a male in six years in a suspected rare case of parthenogenesis 13 Conservation editThere are several species at the Aquarium that are critically endangered or extinct in the wild The Belle Isle Aquarium offers various education programs focused on water and environmental conservation that serve both students and educators from the elementary to university levels The Aquarium has a formal partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to assist with repopulating sturgeon in the Detroit River Additionally Aquarium staff administers frog and mudpuppy studies on the island which help indicate the health of its ecosystems The Keep Belle Isle Beautiful anti litter initiative also launches from the Aquarium References edit a b History belleisleaquarium com Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium Archived from the original on 14 March 2008 Retrieved 14 May 2010 a b c d e Belle Isle Aquarium detroitarmy com Detroit Army Archived from the original on 30 April 2010 Retrieved 15 May 2010 a b c City To Close 100 Year Old Belle Isle Aquarium clickondetroit com Click On Detroit 14 January 2005 Archived from the original on 6 March 2012 Retrieved 15 May 2010 a b c It s Official City Says Belle Isle Aquarium Will Close clickondetroit com Click On Detroit 4 March 2005 Archived from the original on 9 June 2011 Retrieved 15 May 2010 Burton Clarence Monroe 1922 The City of Detroit 1701 1922 Volume 1 p 416 Retrieved 12 March 2018 Belle Isle Aquarium To Reopen On August 18 In Celebration Of Her 108th Birthday PDF belleisleconservancy org Belle Isle Conservancy Archived from the original PDF on 31 August 2012 Retrieved 21 August 2012 Palmer Woods Resolution belleisleaquarium com Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium Retrieved 14 May 2010 One of Best in the World Detroit Free Press 19 August 1904 Retrieved 14 January 2016 via Newspapers com Supporters Fight To Keep Belle Isle Aquarium Afloat clickondetroit com Click On Detroit 21 February 2005 Archived from the original on 9 June 2011 Retrieved 15 May 2010 Belle Isle Aquarium Keeps Doors Open For Now clickondetroit com Click On Detroit 23 February 2005 Archived from the original on 9 June 2011 Retrieved 15 May 2010 a b c d Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium belleisleaquarium com Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium Archived from the original on 30 May 2010 Retrieved 14 May 2010 Satyanarayana Megha September 16 2012 A landmark reborn Belle Isle Aquarium reopens to thousands Detroit Free Press Retrieved 22 January 2013 Mayell Hillary September 26 2002 Shark Gives Virgin Birth in Detroit nationalgeographic com National Geographic News Archived from the original on September 29 2002 Retrieved 14 May 2010 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Belle Isle Aquarium Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium Friends of Belle Isle Inside the Belle Isle Aquarium at Detroiturbex com Historic Detroit Belle Isle Aquarium Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Belle Isle Aquarium amp oldid 1188752166, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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