Shedd Aquarium

Shedd Aquarium
Date opened	May 30, 1930
Location	1200 South Lake Shore Drive Chicago, Illinois, United States
Number of animals	32,000[1]
Number of species	1,500
Total volume of tanks	5 million US gallons (19,000 m3)
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]
Website	www.sheddaquarium.org

Shedd Aquarium
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
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Location	Chicago, Illinois
Coordinates	41°52′4″N 87°36′50″W / 41.86778°N 87.61389°W / 41.86778; -87.61389Coordinates: 41°52′4″N 87°36′50″W / 41.86778°N 87.61389°W / 41.86778; -87.61389
Built	1929
Architect	Graham,Anderson,Probst & White
NRHP Reference #	87000820 [7]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	February 27, 1987
Designated NHL	February 27, 1987[8]

Shedd Aquarium (formally the John G. Shedd Aquarium) is an indoor public aquarium in Chicago, Illinois in the United States that opened on May 30, 1930. The aquarium contains 32,000 animals,^[1] and was for some time the largest indoor aquarium in the world with 5,000,000 US gallons (19,000,000 l; 4,200,000 imp gal) of water. Shedd Aquarium was the first inland aquarium with a permanent saltwater fish collection. It is surrounded by Museum Campus Chicago, which it shares with the Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum of Natural History. In 2015, the aquarium had 2.02 million annual visitors; it was the most visited aquarium in the U.S. in 2005, and in 2007, it surpassed the Field Museum as the most popular cultural attraction in Chicago.^[9] It contains 1500 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.

History

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 $3,000,000 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 were 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 1,000,000 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 has been the president and CEO of the aquarium since 1994. Bridget C. Coughlin will be taking over duties as President and CEO of the company in the Spring of 2016, as Ted A. Beattie announced his retirement after 22 years of service.^[14]

Exhibits and presentations

There are several permanent exhibits at Shedd: Waters of the World, Caribbean Reef, Amazon Rising, Wild Reef, Stingray Touch 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 Haraldmeier's mantella, a Enteroctopus dofleini, Gymnarchus, blue iguana, starfish, seahorses, alligator snapping turtle, and otter.

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. The tank is near the center of the first floor. It is adjacent to Amazon Rising and Waters of the World, and above Wild Reef.

Amazon Rising

The Amazon Rising exhibit is a 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 anacondas, piranhas, spiders, freshwater stingrays and caimans.

Wild Reef

In 2003 Shedd opened Wild Reef, a permanent exhibit located two levels below the main building. The exhibit contains a total of 750,000 US gallons (2,800,000 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. 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]

Stingray Touch

Opened on May 17, 2013, this exhibit allows guests to touch cownose rays and yellow spotted rays as they swim around their 20,000 US gallons (76,000 l) outdoor exhibit. Located on the aquarium's South Terrace, this exhibit is open seasonally from May through October.

Oceanarium

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, belugas, sea otters and California sea lions, as well as penguins. It holds 3,000,000 US gallons (11,000,000 l) in total; the largest single tank is the 2,000,000-US-gallon (7,600,000 l) "Whale Harbour".^[16] The Oceanarium is the largest indoor marine mammal facility in the world.^[17] 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.

Fantasea

Fantasea was a multiple animal show at Shedd Aquarium, running from October 16, 2009, through 2010. The show features sea lions, beluga whales, penguins, hawks, and dolphins.

One World

One World aquatic show replaced Fantasea in 2013. The show features belugas, dolphins, sea lions and dogs. A holiday version is shown in November and December.

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, Planet Earth, Ice Age, Dora the Explorer and the Polar Express.

Current special exhibits

Amphibians

This current exhibit opened on May 15 and features 40 different species of amphibians, including the gray tree frog, poison dart frog, fire-breathing toad, emperor newt, axolotl, tiger salamander, spring peeper, Japanese giant salamander, cane toad, and the marbled salamander.^[18]

Animals on exhibit, past and present

Australian Lungfish

Walter Chute, the aquarium's director from 1928 to 1964, wanted rare fishes 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.^[19]

Although Granddad's mate died in 1980, he is still alive and is claimed by the aquarium to be the oldest fish in any aquarium in the world.^[19] He is at least 86 and possibly older; he weighs 25 pounds (11 kg) and is 4 feet (1.2 m) in length. His normal behavior is to lay like a sunken log on the bottom of his habitat.

Beluga whales

Mauyak (F), Naya (F), Beethoven (M), Kayavak (F), Bella (F), Grayson (M), and Kimalu (F).

In 2000, Mauyak gave birth to Qannik, who was sent to Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma where he died in 2009. In 2006, the beluga whale Puiji gave birth to a female calf, later named Bella. 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.

Kayavak, a young beluga whale, 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, another of Shedd Aquarium's beluga whales, gave birth to a 162-pound, five-foot, four-inch male calf on December 14, 2009.^[20] Although it was a difficult birth, the calf survived and debuted to the public on Sunday, January 24, 2010.^[21][22] He has since been named "Nunavik" meaning "friendly, beautiful, and wild". Nunavik currently lives at the Georgia Aquarium as of 2016.

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.

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.^[23] 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.^[24]

On August 27, 2012, Mauyak gave birth to a female calf, Kimalu, bringing the total number of belugas at Shedd to seven.^[25]

Alaskan sea otters

Yaku (M), Mari (F), and Kiana (F)

Kenai (Exxon Valdez oil spill survivor) was euthanized on October 9, 2012 due to failing health brought on by advancing years.^[26]

Kachemak (oldest sea otter in a North American Aquarium/Zoo) was euthanized on August 24, 2013 due to failing health related to age.^[27]

Southern sea otters

Luna (F)^[28]

Pacific white-sided dolphins

Kri (F), Piquet (F), Katrl (F), Munchkin (F), Sagu (M), Makoa (M), Kukdlaa (M)

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 again this time to Makoa on June 1, 2015. On April 18, 2016, Katrl's gave birth to a male calf sired by Li'i. The calf was placed on display on June 18, 2016. He still does not have a name.

California sea lions

Tyler (M), Biff (M), Cruz (M), and Laguna (M)

Green sea turtle

Nickel

Nickel is a female green sea turtle who resides at the Caribbean Reef exhibit located in the rotunda area of the aquarium. She is infamously known for her unusual swimming posture where her pelvis is constantly pointing upwards toward the surface. Nickel was first rescued at Florida's Gulf Coast area in 1998 where it was revealed that she was struck by the propeller of a speedboat, with the propeller's blades severely damaging her shell and paralyzing her from the waist down. She was taken to Shedd Aquarium in the spring of 2003 where during an X-ray examination of the turtle, it was revealed that she had swallowed a 1975 nickel in which she was named after upon having the coin removed from her throat. Since her spine paralysis is too severe for her to survive in the wild, the Shedd Aquarium is now Nickel's permanent home. She is also one of the few rehabbed turtles to be on permanent display in the United States, in order to caution visitors about how human activities can threaten the health and survival of sea turtles.^[29]

North American river otter

Rio

Euthanized on October 29, 2013 due to age related health issues. She was 21 and lived well past the median life expectancy of a North American river otter.^[30]

Sharks

Guitarfish
Lucille

Sawfish
Ginsu

Zebra shark
Seymour, Eli, Vera & Cleo

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.

Grand Cayman blue iguana

Bob

Architecture

Shedd Aquarium is also notable for its architecture. The basic design, by architectural firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White,^[31] 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.^[32] 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 3,000,000-US-gallon (11,000,000 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 research done at the Shedd can be used to provide unique insight on conservation efforts around the world.

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 does most of their beluga whale research in Bristol Bay in southwest Alaska.^[33]

See also

• List of museums and cultural institutions in Chicago
• Chicago architecture
• Culture of Chicago
• LGBT culture in Chicago
• Art Institute of Chicago
• Lincoln Park Zoo
• Brookfield Zoo
• Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)

Gallery

• 

  Man with Fish statue next to the building

• 

  Main entrance at night

• 

  Cleaning a habitat in the Oceanarium

• 

  Nickel, a Green sea turtle at the aquarium

• 

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

• 

  Rockhoppers and gentoos at the penguin habitat.

• 

  Two belugas swimming in the oceanarium

• 

  A Pacific white-sided dolphin back tail-walking

• 

  Sea turtle named Nickel

• 

  Splendid garden eel from the Wild Reef exhibit

• 

  Beauty of the Amazon exhibit

Notes

References

• Oceanarium Press Kit

External links

• Media related to Shedd Aquarium at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website
• Commercials at The Museum of Classic Chicago Television