Chicago, IL

Shedd Aquarium in Chicago

Address: 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60605 - MAP
Phone: (312) 939-2438
Web: www.sheddaquarium.org

The John G. Shedd Aquarium debuted in Chicago in 1930. At the time of its opening, the aquarium was the largest in the world and was the first inland aquarium with a permanent saltwater fish collection. The Shedd Aquarium was the most visited aquarium in the nation in 2005 and 2007, and is an essential part of Museum Campus along with the Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum of Natural History.

The aquarium welcomes over 2 million guests annually to view their extensive collection of over 1,500 species of fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians and insects. In all, the Shedd Aquarium houses about 25,000 fish. The five permanent exhibits at the Shedd are Amazon Rising, Caribbean Reef, Waters of the World, the Oceanarium, and Wild Reef. The aquarium garnered the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' award for best exhibit in 1999 for Seahorse Symphony, in 2001 for Amazon Rising and in 2004 for Wild Reef.

Some of the animals and sea life that can be seen at the Shedd are Alaska sea otters, beluga whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, green sea turtles, Australian lungfish, Grand Caymon blue iguanas, sea lions, penguins, blacktip reef sharks, cownose rays, dragon moray eel, giant Pacific octopus, moon jellies, red-bellied piranhas, sea cucumbers, zebra sharks and sea stars.