John G. Shedd Aquarium
-
The eponymous John G. Shedd, president of Marshall Field’s department store, donated this Beaux Arts aquarium to Chicago in 1929. One of the city’s top attractions ever since, it houses some 19,000 marine animals representing 1,500 different species that include amphibians, fish, and aquatic mammals. The latter romp in the saltwater of the 1991-built glass-walled Oceanarium, which places an infinity pool in front of Lake Michigan to transporting effect.
-
1. Caribbean Coral Reef
This vibrant tropical tank contains glinting tarpon, bonnethead sharks, fluttering rays, and many other fish. A scuba diver hand-feeds them five times daily, narrating his task via an underwater microphone.
-
2. Oceanarium
Underwater galleries afford incredible views of the likes of dolphins and beluga whales swimming through the Oceanarium’s vast pool. It is bordered by rocky outcrops and towering pines in an amazing re-creation of the Pacific Northwest coast.
-
3. Wild Reef
Gain a daring diver’s perspective of whitetip reef, blacktip reef, sand-bar, and wobbegong sharks. The massive Queensland grouper and fearsome Lionfish happily hold their own amid the predator school.
-
4. Habitat Chats
Oceanarium staffers hold daily discussions about the beluga whales, sea otters, and gentoo and rockhopper penguins in their charge. Twice daily there are also chats covering a changing roster of fish from the aquarium.
-
5. Worldwide Fishes
Themed tanks holding over 300 species of fish include Ocean Coasts, Tropical Waters, and Africa, Asia, and Australia. An Australian lungfish known as “Grandad” is a celebrated resident, having lived here since 1933.
-
6. MacArthur Gallery
This 3,600 sq ft (334 sq m) special exhibit gallery is located on the mezzanine level of the Oceanarium and features changing exhibits focused on aquatic animals.
-
7. Amazon Rising
Demonstrating the huge seasonal tides of the world’s longest river, this exhibit presents a year in the life of the Amazon flood plain. Look out for the ferocious red bellied piranha.
-
8. Animal Enounters
Get up close and personal with Chilean rose tarantulas, African bullfrogs, and red-tailed boas in handler-controlled encounters, twice daily.
-
9. Tide Pool Touch
Here, staffers guide visitors through touch tanks that imitate the tide pools of the Pacific Northwest coast. Seize your chance to stroke a starfish or tickle an anemone. Check times on arrival.
-
10. Oceanarium Shows
Four or five times a day trainers put the belugas and dolphins through their paces. Children are chosen from the audience to reward the animals’ intrepid feats (such as tail-walking, and vocalizing) with tasty treats.
Advertisement
-
-
Merry in Madrid
travel
-
New York festivities
travel
-
Christmas in Vienna
travel
-
Washington, D.C. guide
michae
-
-
-
Venice Guide
BillZi
-
Barty's guide
gringo
-
Beijing guide
Dave P
-
Yerom's Orlando guide
Yerom
-
Mike & Kat's Rome guide
behemo
-




Get DK Top Ten Travel Guides on your iPhone & iPod Touch!




symbol, to start adding attractions to your
tailor-made travel guide.
If you were signed in, you could write a review here. Register for a free account, or if you're already a member, sign in.