Shedd Aquarium

Shedd Aquarium (formally the John G. Shedd Aquarium) is an indoor public aquarium in Chicago. Opened on May 30, 1930, the 5 million US gal (19,000,000 L; 4,200,000 imp gal) aquarium holds about 32,000 animals and is the third largest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere, after the Georgia Aquarium and Monterey Bay Aquarium.^[1]

Shedd Aquarium
The Aquarium in 2022
Date opened	May 30, 1930; 93 years ago (May 30, 1930)
Location	1200 South Lake Shore Drive Chicago, Illinois, United States
No. of animals	32,000^[1]
No. of species	1,500
Total volume of tanks	5 million US gallons (19,000 m^3)
Annual visitors	2.02 Million^[2]
Memberships	AZA,^[3] AMMPA,^[4] WAZA^[5]
Major exhibits	Amazon Rising, Caribbean Reef, Abbott Oceanarium, Polar Play Zone, Waters of the World, Wild Reef^[6]
Public transit access	CTA
Website	www.sheddaquarium.org
Shedd Aquarium
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Built	1929
Architect	Graham, Anderson, Probst & White
NRHP reference No.	87000820 ^[7]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	February 27, 1987
Designated NHL	February 27, 1987^[8]

The Shedd Aquarium is a highly-ranked world aquarium and at one time was the largest indoor facility in the world. It is the first inland aquarium with a permanent saltwater fish collection. The aquarium is located along Lake Michigan in the city's Museum Campus, which also includes other highly-ranked institutions such as Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum of Natural History.

In 2015, the Shedd Aquarium had 2.02 million visitors. It was the most visited aquarium in the Western Hemisphere in 2005, and in 2007, became the most visited cultural institution in Chicago.^[9] The aquarium contains 1,500 species, including fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians, and insects.^[10] The aquarium received awards for "best exhibit" from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) for Seahorse Symphony in 1999, Amazon Rising in 2001, and Wild Reef in 2004. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

History

 

Aquarium at dawn

Shedd Aquarium was the gift of retail leader John G. Shedd, a protégé of Marshall Field (benefactor of the adjacent Field Museum), to the city of Chicago. Although Shedd only lived long enough to see the architect's first drawings for the aquarium, his widow, Mary R. Shedd, cut the ribbon at the official opening ceremony.

The aquarium cost $3 million to build, and initially included 132 exhibit tanks.^[11] Groundbreaking took place on November 2, 1927, and construction was completed on December 19, 1929; the first exhibits opened on May 30, 1930. As one of the first inland aquariums in the world, the Shedd had to rely on a custom-made railroad car, the Nautilus, for the transport of fish and seawater. The Nautilus lasted until 1959.

In 1930, 20 railroad tank cars made eight round trips between Key West and Chicago to transport 1 million US gallons (3,800,000 L) of seawater for the Shedd's saltwater exhibits. In 1933, Chicago hosted its second world's fair, the Century of Progress. The Aquarium was located immediately north of the fairgrounds, and the museum gained exposure to a large international crowd.

In 1971, Shedd Aquarium added one of its most popular exhibits, a 90,000-US-gallon (340,000 L) exhibit reproducing a Caribbean coral reef. That same year, the aquarium acquired its first research vessel, a 75-foot (23 m) boat for exploring the Caribbean, manned by a crew to conduct field research and collect specimens. In 1985, this boat was replaced with the aquarium's current vessel, the Coral Reef II. In 1987, Shedd Aquarium was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

John Shedd's grandson, John Shedd Reed, who had served as president of Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad from 1967 to 1986, was president of the aquarium's board from 1984 until 1994, and was a life trustee until his death in 2008.^[12][13] Ted A. Beattie served as president and CEO of the aquarium from 1994 until his retirement in 2016. Bridget C. Coughlin assumed duties as president and CEO of the company in the Spring of 2016.^[14]

Exhibits and presentations

 

Chicago skyline at sunrise, viewed from the east; the Shedd is at left

There are several permanent exhibits at Shedd: Waters of the World, Caribbean Reef, Amazon Rising, Wild Reef, and the Abbott Oceanarium.

Waters of the World

The oldest galleries in the aquarium feature exhibits on oceans, rivers, islands and lakes, and Chicago's own local waters. Species on exhibit include American bullfrog, a giant Pacific octopus, American alligator, lake sturgeon, starfish, lined seahorses, and alligator snapping turtle.

Caribbean Reef

The Caribbean Reef exhibit was built in 1971, on the site of the aquarium's very first exhibit, the Tropical Pool. A feature of this exhibit is a diver that interacts with the animals while talking with the people. A part of the exhibit is a 90,000-US-gallon (340,000 L) circular tank that allows for maximum walk-around viewing. It was one of the first habitats to display schooling fish. It is also home to the rescued green sea turtle, Nickel, as well as Atlantic tarpons, cownose rays, redband parrotfish, Bonnethead sharks, a Green moray eel, and many more species. The exhibit is near the center of the first floor. It is adjacent to Amazon Rising, Waters of the World, and Wild Reef. The Caribbean Reef tank was closed in 2023 and will eventually be replaced with the Caribbean Reef tunnel connecting the two main sections of the aquarium building, while two new tanks will eventually replace the original Caribbean Reef tank.

Amazon Rising

The Amazon Rising exhibit is an 8,600-square-foot (800 m²) walkthrough flooded forest recreation of the Amazon River and the surrounding jungle. This exhibit contains 250 different species, and its highest water level is 6 feet (1.8 m). Species from this area on exhibit include a green anaconda, red-bellied piranhas, electric eels, freshwater stingrays, dwarf caimans, caiman lizards, wattled jacanas, yellow-spotted river turtles, red-footed tortoises, yellow-footed tortoises, mata matas, Arapaimas, different species of South American birds, fish, and frogs, and many more.

Wild Reef

 

The wild reef exhibited at the Shedd Aquarium

In 2003, Shedd opened Wild Reef, a permanent exhibit located two levels below the main building. The exhibit contains a total of 525,000 US gallons (1,990,000 L) and recreates a Philippine coral reef on the Apo Island marine reserve, complete with living coral, multiple species of fish and rays, and a collection of sharks such as sandbar, zebra, blacktip reef sharks, white-spotted guitarfish, Spotted wobbegongs, and Japanese wobbegongs. The main draw of this attraction is a 400,000-US-gallon (1,500,000 L) shark tank with 12-foot (3.7 m) high curved windows, allowing visitors a diver's-eye view. The Wild Reef exhibit also features a saltwater tank display area where coral is propagated and grown for conservation purposes.^[15]

Oceanarium

 

Belugas swimming in the Abbott Oceanarium

 

The Abbott Oceanarium exterior

In 1991, Shedd Aquarium opened the Oceanarium (known since 2010 as the Abbott Oceanarium), a large addition to the aquarium that features marine mammals, including Pacific white-sided dolphins, beluga whales, sea otters and California sea lions, on the right side of the stairway that's next to the sea lions is an open estuary tank for several cuttlefish and by the sea otter exhibit, is a large natural looking touch tank for tide pool creatures like crabs, sea cucumbers and sea anemones. The lower level of the Oceanarium allows underwater viewing of the beluga whales and the dolphins. It holds 3 million US gallons (11,000,000 L) in total; the largest single tank is the 2-million-US-gallon (7,600,000 L) "Whale Harbour".^[16] The Oceanarium is the largest indoor marine mammal facility in the world.^[17] The Oceanarium also houses a 1,000-seat amphitheater which presents an educational marine mammal show. Several of the sea otters that lived in the aquarium in the past were rescued from the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989.^[16] In the fall of 2008, Shedd's Oceanarium was closed for preventive sealing as well as administrative upgrades. The animals in the exhibit area were temporarily moved to other zoos and aquariums until the exhibit reopened in May 2009.

Polar Play Zone

The exhibit is an interactive play area for children and contains an underwater viewing area of the beluga whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins and sea otters. The exhibit also includes Southern rockhopper penguins and magellanic penguins, as well as 5 circular tanks for moon jellyfish and starfishes that are by an interactive submarine model. There is also a starfish touch pool.

Stingray Touch

Located on the aquarium's South Terrace, this exhibit allows guests to touch cownose rays as they swim around their 20,000 US gallons (76,000 L) outdoor exhibit and is open seasonally from May through October.

Plankton Revealed

The Plankton Revealed exhibit opened in July 2023 focuses on the importance of plankton and features flamboyant cuttlefish, white-spotted jellyfish, brine shrimp and other small animals. This interactive exhibit is the aquarium's first to be fully bilingual, featuring Spanish translations.^[18][19]

4D Theater

The 4D Theater opened in 2009 as part of the renovation of the Abbott Oceanarium. The 4D experience includes a 3D film with interactive seats, high-tech audio and interactive elements like scents and bubbles. Films shown have included SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, and The Polar Express (seasonal).

Previous special exhibits

Underwater Beauty

This exhibit opened on May 25, 2018, and focused on the visual beauty of sea life, with sections called "Color", "Patterns", and "Rhythms." The exhibit featured 100 different species of fish and invertebrate, displayed to accent their visual qualities, including the ribbon eel, lagoon jelly, flower hat jelly, peacock mantis shrimp, Weedy seadragon and longnose hawkfish.^[20] The exhibit closed on April 17, 2023.^[21]

Jellies

The "jellies" exhibit opened in April 2011, focusing on jellyfish, and the misconceptions surrounding them. It featured at least 10 species of jellyfish, including moon jellyfish, egg-yolk jellyfish, purple-striped jelly, Atlantic sea nettle, jelly blubber and upside-down jellyfish. The exhibit closed in 2015.^[22]

Amphibians

The amphibian exhibit opened on May 15, 2015, and ran through January 1, 2018. It featured 40 different species of amphibians, including the gray tree frog, poison dart frog, fire-bellied toad, emperor newt, axolotl, tiger salamander, spring peeper, Japanese giant salamander, cane toad, and the marbled salamander.^[23][24]

Animals on exhibit, past and present

Australian Lungfish

Granddad

Walter Chute, the aquarium's director from 1928 to 1964, wanted rare fish to attract the 10 million tourists expected to visit Chicago for the exposition in 1933. Granddad, an Australian lungfish, arrived at the Shedd in 1933, along with his mate, from Sydney during the Century of Progress world exposition. During the expo's run, they attracted about 4.5 million visitors.^[25]

At Granddad's death in 2017, he was claimed by the aquarium to be the oldest fish in any aquarium in the world. He was 109^[26] years old; he weighed 25 pounds (11 kg) and was 4 feet (1.2 m) in length. His normal behavior was to lay like a sunken log on the bottom of his habitat.

Beluga whales

 

The Shedd Aquarium currently has eight living Belugas as of November 15, 2022: Naya (F), Beethoven (M), Kayavak (F), Bella (F), Aurek (M), Kimalu (F), Annik (M) and Atlas (M).

Mauyak, Qannik, Miki, Kimalu, Annik: In 2000, Mauyak gave birth to Qannik, who was sent to Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma where he died in 2009. On August 16, 2007, Mauyak gave birth yet again to a male calf named Miki, the Inuit word for ″small″ bringing the total number of successful beluga calf births at the aquarium to four since 1999. Miki has been moved to the Mystic Aquarium in 2016. On August 27, 2012, Mauyak gave birth to a female calf, Kimalu.^[27] On July 3, 2019, Mauyak gave birth to a male calf, Annik, bringing the total number of belugas at Shedd to eight.^[28] Mauyak died on Saturday, November 12, 2022. ^[29]

Immiayuk, Kayavak: Kayavak is one of the most famous residents of the Oceanarium. The whale became an orphan at only five months old after her mother, Immiayuk, died. Trainers fed Kayavak fish, cared for her day and night, taught her how to "be a whale", and she thrived to be the healthy adult she is today.

Puiji, Bella, and Nunavik: In 2006, the beluga whale Puiji gave birth to a female calf, later named Bella. On December 14, 2009, she gave birth to a 162-pound, five-foot, four-inch male calf.^[30] Although it was a difficult birth, the calf survived and debuted to the public on Sunday, January 24, 2010.^[31][32] He has since been named "Nunavik" meaning "friendly, beautiful, and wild". Nunavik currently lives at the Georgia Aquarium as of 2016. Puiji died on Wednesday, October 26, 2011, following a seizure after having been undergoing treatment for an undisclosed medical condition over the course of several months.^[33]

Naluark: Naluark was transferred to Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration in Mystic, Connecticut, in October 2011. He has since been moved to SeaWorld Orlando in 2016.

Naya: Another female beluga, named Naya, gave birth on December 20 to a 162-pound, five-foot two-inch male calf, though the calf died two days later from complications during birth.^[34]

Alaskan sea otters

Yaku (son of Kenai) was euthanized on February 26, 2022, due to failing health brought on by a tumor in his chest.^[35]

Kenai (Exxon Valdez oil spill survivor) was euthanized on October 9, 2012, due to failing health brought on by advancing years.^[36]

Kachemak (oldest sea otter in a North American Aquarium/Zoo) was euthanized on August 24, 2013, due to failing health related to age.^[37]

Southern sea otters

Luna (F),^[38] Cooper (M), Watson (M). Ellie (F)^[39][40]

Pacific white-sided dolphins

The aquarium has five white sided dolphins: Kri (F), Katrl (F), Munchkin (F), Makoa (M) and Harmony (F).

Sagu and Makoa were conceived by Li'i at the Miami Seaquarium when Piquet was on a breeding loan there. Piquet gave birth to Sagu on Memorial Day weekend in 2012. Piquet gave birth to her second calf, Makoa on June 1, 2015. On April 18, 2016, Katrl gave birth to a male calf sired by Li'i. The calf was placed on display on June 18, 2016, and was named Kukdlaa meaning "Bubbles" in the Tlingit language. Piquet was moved to Miami SeaQuarium in early 2018 for a breeding loan and Ipo was transferred to Shedd to take her place.

Green sea turtle

Nickel

Nickel is a female green sea turtle who resides at the Caribbean Reef exhibit located in directly in front of the main lobby. Nickel was rescued on Florida's Gulf Coast area in 1998, where she was struck by the propellers of a motorboat. This accident damaged her shell and paralyzed her from the waist down causing her to have buoyancy problems. Researchers thought that she could no longer live in the wild so she was brought to Shedd in the spring of 2003. Upon her arrival, she went through several medical examinations, including an x-ray. The x-ray revealed a 1975 nickel lodged in her throat which is where she received the name, Nickel. Nickel is one of the many rescued animals that reside in the Shedd. She serves as an example to many people of the effects human activities can have on wildlife.^[41]

North American river otter

Rio

Euthanized on October 29, 2013, due to age related health issues, Rio was 21 and lived well past the median life expectancy of a North American river otter.^[42]

Grouper

Bubba

Bubba, a male Queensland grouper, was believed to be the first fish to undergo chemotherapy. He was introduced to the aquarium in 1987 and died in 2006.^[43]

Tarpon

Deadeye

Deadeye, a female Atlantic tarpon, was the oldest fish to reside at the Caribbean Reef in the aquarium. She was first introduced to the aquarium in 1935 and died in 1998.^{[44][self-published source]}

Architecture

 

Lamp in the main entrance depicting various sea creatures

Shedd Aquarium is also notable for its architecture. The basic design, by architectural firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White,^[45] is taken from classical Greek architecture, more specifically Beaux Arts, to match the other structures of the Museum Campus. The central aquarium building is octagonal, fronted by Doric columns and a formal staircase and topped by a dome. Aquatic motifs are worked in at every opportunity; tortoise shells, dolphins, octopuses, waves, and even the Trident of Poseidon can be found all over the aquarium's exterior and interior. Improving upon its predecessor inland aquarium, the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit, extensive use was made of designs by Mary Chase Perry Stratton, incorporating her custom-made Pewabic Pottery tile.^[46] The Oceanarium is done in a more modern style representing the Pacific Northwest, but one that blends with the older part of the building. "Whale Harbor", the Oceanarium's 2-million-US-gallon (7,600,000 L) main tank, is backed by a wall of windows that look out onto Lake Michigan.

Conservation and research

The Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research helps to provide on-site research at the aquarium. They study topics such as animal health and behavior, nutrition, animal training, reproduction and genetics.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) designated the Shedd Aquarium as its Center for Species Survival:Freshwater, to study and promote the conservation and restoration of global freshwater systems, and strategies for freshwater species survival.^[47]

The aquarium also partners with conservation efforts in the Caribbean and Southeast Asia. The Bahamian rock iguana is one of the most endangered lizards in the world. Since 1994, the Shedd Aquarium has been studying and providing conservation plans for this iguana. The Shedd Aquarium is now recognized as the lead authority on this iguana. In Southeast Asia, the Shedd partners with Project Seahorse to monitor and map out the seahorse populations in Southeast Asia.

Since 1991, the Shedd Aquarium has been involved with research focused on beluga whales. They focus on the animal handling procedures to ensure the animals’ welfare. The aquarium conducts most of their beluga whale research in Bristol Bay in southwest Alaska.^[48]

See also

• List of museums and cultural institutions in Chicago
• Chicago architecture
• Culture of Chicago
• Art Institute of Chicago
• Lincoln Park Zoo
• Brookfield Zoo
• Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)
• List of National Historic Landmarks in Illinois

Gallery

•  

  Entrance in 2008

•  

  Man with Fish statue next to the building

•  

  Main entrance at night

•  

  Cleaning a habitat in the Oceanarium

•  

  Nickel, a Green sea turtle resting at the aquarium

•  

  A Pacific white-sided dolphin leaping from the oceanarium during the main dolphin demonstration

•  

  Southern rockhoppers and gentoos at the penguin habitat

•  

  Two belugas swimming in the oceanarium

•  

  A Pacific white-sided dolphin back tail-walking

•  

  Nickel, a green sea turtle, swimming at the aquarium

•  

  Splendid garden eel from the Wild Reef exhibit

•  

  Beauty of the Amazon exhibit

Notes

1. Shedd Aquarium - Explore by Animal
2. Abel, David (2016-08-02). "Top aquariums in the US, in terms of visitors". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
3. "Find A Zoo or Aquarium". Retrieved 30 December 2010.
4. "Our Members". Retrieved 30 December 2010.
5. "Find a WAZA Zoo or Aquarium". Retrieved 30 December 2010.
6. "Explore by Exhibit". sheddaquarium.org. John G. Shedd Aquarium. from the original on May 1, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
7. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
8. . National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2009-06-28. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
9. "Crain's List Largest Tourist Attractions (Cultural): Ranked by 2007 attendance". Crain's Chicago Business. 2008-06-23. p. 22.
10. (PDF). January 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-05. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
11. "Fish Find Comforts of Home in New Aquarium". Popular Science: 116–117. July 1930. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
12. "John Shedd Reed, rail executive". San Jose Mercury News. Associated Press. 2008-03-17. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
13. (PDF). 2007-03-01. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-06-25. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
14. Johnson, Steve (January 6, 2016). "Shedd Aquarium names Bridget Coughlin as CEO". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
15. . Shedd Aquarium. Archived from the original on 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
16. Shedd Aquarium, Exhibits: . Retrieved 8 November 2013
17. Mullen, William (2008-05-21). "Shedd Oceanarium to close for upkeep". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
18. "Shedd Aquarium Explores the Microscopic Aquatic World in New Plankton Revealed Exhibit". Shedd Aquarium. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
19. "Plankton Revealed". Shedd Aquarium. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
20. . Archived from the original on March 22, 2023.
21. "'Underwater Beauty' Special Exhibit at Shedd Aquarium to Close April". Lawndale News. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
22. DeCarlo, Liz (April 11, 2011). "Jellies exhibit set to open at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago". Chicago Parent. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
23. . Shedd Aquarium. Archived from the original on May 18, 2017.
24. Johnson, Steve (May 13, 2015). "'Amphibians' at the Shedd: Poison newt skin and froggy facts". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
25. . Archived from the original on 2010-12-23. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
26. "How old was the Shedd's dearly departed Granddad? According to new research, very old indeed". Chicago Tribune. 2022-07-21. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
27. "New Baby Beluga At Shedd Aquarium Makes Public Debut, Is A Girl". HuffPost. October 23, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
28. "Say Hello to Beluga Whale Annik". sheddaquarium.org. November 22, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
29. "Shedd Aquarium Mourns Loss of Beloved Beluga Whale". sheddaquarium.org. November 14, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
30. Mullen, William (December 16, 2009). "Baby beluga survives rough 1st day". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
31. Cancino, Alejandra (January 22, 2010). "Beluga calf thriving at Shedd". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
32. "New beluga baby to make Shedd debut". WLS-TV News. January 21, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
33. "Beluga whale dies at Shedd Aquarium". Chicago Tribune. October 27, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
34. Mullen, William (December 23, 2009). "Beluga whale calf dies at Shedd Aquarium as Brookfield Zoo euthanizes elephant". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
35. "Our Commitment Continues". Shedd Aquarium. 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
36. Furnweger, Karen (2012-10-09). . Shedd Aquarium. Archived from the original on 2013-01-03. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
37. Furnweger, Karen (2013-08-26). . Shedd Aquarium. Archived from the original on 2013-10-31. Retrieved 2013-08-26.
38. "Meet Shedd Aquarium's Newest Star, Luna The Sea Otter". CBS Chicago. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
39. . Archived from the original on 10 May 2017.
40. leslie. "Shedd Aquarium Asks The Public To Name Rescued Sea Otter Pups". The Crusader Newspaper Group. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
41. "Green Sea Turtle". Retrieved 17 February 2014.
42. . Shedd Aquarium. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013.
43. "Bubba the grouper dies at Shedd". Chicago Tribune. 23 August 2006. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
44. Gamlin, Jim (2013). Because of Nickel: The Adventures of a Used Turtle Salesman. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 978-1483655284. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
45. . Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
46. . Craft In America, Inc. Archived from the original on 2008-03-14. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
47. "Shedd Aquarium and The Morton Arboretum named new Centers for Species Survival". IUCN. 2023-03-08. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
48. Matthews, Meg. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2014.

References

• Oceanarium Press Kit

External links

•   Media related to Shedd Aquarium at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website