Happy 25th Anniversary to our favorite Aquarium in Long Beach, CA. Since opening its doors in 1998, the non profit Aquarium of the Pacific has connected millions of people from around the world to the beauty and wonder of our ocean planet. The Aquarium has new programming, events, contests, photography exhibit, and a short film now highlighting Souther California's natural world. It's all happening now, May 26th through December 31, 2023. Plus there's a whole new gallery opening this Summer! Trust me when I tell you, you do not want to miss it. Let's chat more about all the exciting details happening at the Aquarium Of The Pacific this year.
Aquarium Of The Pacific 25th Anniversary Celebration
Southern California is home to ocean treasures that rival those around the world. Through its 25th Anniversary Celebration, the Aquarium will highlight this special region in a variety of ways, including announcing new major exhibits slated to open this summer, (more on that down below) and its vision for the future. Throughout each day of the anniversary celebration, visitors can take in a new short film projected in the Aquarium’s Great Hall next to a life-sized model of a blue whale. During this experience, you can see the Aquarium’s work in saving local species and habitats.
After the short film, move to the Aquarium’s second floor, where you can explore photography celebrating people’s connections to nature in Southern California. This exhibit will showcase the work of the top ten winners of the Aquarium’s 25th Anniversary photo contest. They are all stunning and such a treat to see. Fun Fact: Even simply seeing a photo of nature is proven to increase your mood. Nature really is everywhere.
If you like some fun competition this is definitely your moment to shine. During the celebration, the first guest who finds an octopus figurine hidden in a different exhibit each day will win a limited-edition commemorative Aquarium pin. The figurine is see-through and wont be easy to find so keep your eyes peeled. On arrival to the aquarium ask a staff member the details to enter this fun opportunity. The commemorative Aquarium pin is beautiful! Pictured down below.
During the summer, the Aquarium’s First Wednesdays guest speaker series, which includes music and a cocktail/social hour, will focus on the theme of connecting to nature. You can connect from your office or even home. Learn what the experts recommend.
Keep and eye or ear out for their new podcast series and make sure you visit the Aquariums gift store for their all new 25th anniversary merchandise.
All New Aquarium Gallery
The ocean wonders found off the coast of this region rival those found around the world. You don’t need a boat to set sail for this aquatic adventure. The Aquarium of the Pacific invites you to connect with these local treasures as you explore its newly reimagined Southern California Gallery. As you visit the new exhibits, which is set to feature over ten exhibits and more than three dozen species, learn about threats to these important ecosystems, like climate change, and the actions you can take to protect and restore them. The gallery, which is under construction and opens July 1, 2023, during the Aquarium’s 25th Anniversary Celebration. Mark your calendars because this is a reveal you do not want to miss.
Here are some of the Exhibits you can expect to see in this all new gallery.
• Highlighted animals will include the California two-spot octopus, leopard and horn sharks, California scorpion fish, a moray eel, California spiny lobsters, Catalina goby, and California’s state marine fish—the Garibaldi. Visitors will be able to get up close to these animals as they explore a variety of new exhibits.
• Two of the exhibits will focus on underwater habitats off Catalina: Casino Point kelp forests and deep-sea hydro corals at Farnsworth Bank.
•Another exhibit will focus on oil rigs, which serve as artificial reefs located between the mainland near the Aquarium and Catalina Island. An ecosystem has formed on the pilings that rise up from the sea floor since the placement of oil platforms, which started in the 1960s.
•The color changes as visitors explore the Aquarium’s expansive new seagrass meadow exhibit, inspired by seagrass in shallow waters of bays in Orange County. These underwater meadows not only serve as a nursery for juvenile fish, but also a natural protective barrier against coastal erosion and are a reservoir for carbon.
•From these sunny waters, the Aquarium will take you into dark cavernous rocky reefs exhibit where you will see a pod of California spiny lobsters.
•Visitors will also be transported forty miles off the shore through theAquarium’s new open ocean exhibit where they can watch sea jellies floating in this blue-water environment.
Tips On Way We Can All Help
The ocean off Southern California is home to many animals, habitats, and special places that need protection. These ecosystems are at risk due to threats like climate change and pollution, but there is still time to help. Here are a few ways we can all help!
•Walk, bike, carpool or use public transit
•Make your home energy efficient
•Compost food waste
•Debris clean up. Join the aquarium in their Taking Responsibility and Saving Habitats (T.R.A.S.H.) program.
•Enjoy animals at a distance and do not disturb them.
•Habitat Restoration. Join the aquariums habitat restorations program
Will you be visiting the Aquarium Of The Pacific this summer? It's a fun and educational visit for all ages. Their new 25th anniversary celebration is an absolute must. Personally I'm most excited to be able to get an underwater view of the ocean found off the coast of this beautiful region, all from this new Gallery coming July 1st 2023. See you there!
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