Aquarium of the Pacific

Aquarium of the Pacific
Aquarium of the Pacific in February 2024
Interactive map of Aquarium of the Pacific
33°45′44″N 118°11′49″W / 33.76216°N 118.19692°W / 33.76216; -118.19692
Date openedJune 20, 1998
LocationLong Beach, California, United States
Land area6 acres (24,000 m2)
No. of animals12,000
Volume of largest tank
350,000 US gallons (1,300,000 L)
Annual visitors1.7 million (2018)
MembershipsAZA
Major exhibitsJelly Dreamscapes, Stars of the Sea, Frogs: Facing a Changing World, Southern California Gallery, June Keyes Penguin Habitat, Shark Lagoon, Sea Otter Habitat
Public transit A Line Downtown Long Beach (A Line)
Websitewww.aquariumofpacific.org Edit this at Wikidata

The Aquarium of the Pacific (formerly the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific[1]) is a public aquarium on a 6-acre (24,000 m2) site on Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach, California, United States. It is situated across the water from the Long Beach Convention Center, Shoreline Village, and the Queen Mary Hotel and Attraction. The location also has its own street, Aquarium Way.[2] It opened on June 20, 1998.[3]

The aquarium had 1,979 volunteers and employed 485 people in 2024.[4] In 2018, it had 1.7 million visitors.[3] It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation through March 2031.[4][5]

Exhibits

The aquarium features a collection of over 12,000 animals in exhibits from 5,000 US gallons (19,000 L) to 350,000 US gallons (1,300,000 L) in capacity.[6][2]

The Pacific Ocean is the focus of three major permanent galleries: Southern California/Baja Gallery, Northern Pacific Gallery, and Tropical Pacific Gallery.[7] These exhibits introduce the inhabitants and seascapes, and include conservation messages specific to each region.

A diver inside a three-story tall aquarium tank with a group of people watching
A diver addressing a group of visitors using a specially adapted mask in the Honda Blue Cavern tank

The Southern California/Baja Gallery features the varied habitats of this region. The first exhibit is the 142,000-US-gallon (540,000 L) three-story Honda Blue Cavern tank, which houses animals that live in the waters surrounding Catalina Island.

Next is the Casino Point exhibit, which replicates a giant kelp forest with Garibaldi, California scorpionfish, and other representative organisms.[8] The Gulf of California exhibit houses Cortez rainbow wrasse, Mexican lookdowns, porcupine fish, and others.[9] Other areas of the gallery include the 211,000-US-gallon (800,000 L) Seal and Sea Lion Habitat, Ray Habitat Touchpool, and Shorebird Sanctuary.[8]

The Northern Pacific Gallery focuses on organisms from the Bering Sea. Exhibits include the Sea Otter Habitat, home to southern sea otters; the giant Pacific octopus tank; and the Diving Birds Exhibit, where puffins and auklets live. Other species on display include Japanese spider crabs, jellyfish, and sea anemones.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Hill, Russell T.; Vyneman, Gary J. (April 11, 2001). "Certificate of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Archived from the original on May 25, 2026. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Aquarium of the Pacific Institutional Fact Sheet" (PDF). Aquarium of the Pacific. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 4, 2025. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Kingsley, Barbara (June 20, 2018) [June 15, 2018]. "Aquarium of the Pacific turns 20 today, hopes to make a splash when Pacific Visions opens in 2019". Press-Telegram. Archived from the original on May 25, 2026. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  4. 1 2 Frazier, Lia; SingerLewak LLP (November 5, 2025). Return of organization exempt from income tax 2024: Aquarium of the Pacific Corporation (Form 990). EIN 330532354. Retrieved May 25, 2026 – via ProPublica.
  5. ↑ "Currently Accredited Zoos and Aquariums". aza.org. AZA. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  6. ↑ Donegan, John (July 1, 2025). "Meet Inca and Milo, the newest penguins at the Aquarium of the Pacific". Long Beach Post. Archived from the original on August 10, 2025. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Aquarium Exhibits". Aquarium of the Pacific. Archived from the original on November 17, 2025. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Gulf of California". Aquarium of the Pacific. Archived from the original on July 25, 2025. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
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