Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and its collection

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, opened in 1941, is a zoo in San Pedro, United States.

The programmes and displays cover the oceanography and marine biology of Southern California.

History

It began in 1935 as a set of marine specimens held in the Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse, and from 1949 was directed by John Olguin, a lifeguard captain who built up attendance with unscheduled school tours and evening outings to watch grunion spawning. In 1981 it relocated into a larger building by Frank Gehry, and Barton Phelps & Associates designed the expansion of 2004.

What the venue says

• interactive tide pool touch tank
• Aquatic Nursery
• crawl-in aquarium tube
• There are no restaurants, cafes, or food concessions inside the aquarium. However, visitors are welcome to bring their own food and utilize the picnic tables and BBQ facilities located just outside across the parking lot near the beach. Local food trucks are also frequently parked nearby by the beach.
• A large, public fee-based parking lot is available on-site at Cabrillo Beach. Parking rates are $3 per hour with a daily maximum of $9 (credit and debit cards only). Aquarium members enjoy free parking.
• The aquarium is located entirely on one level and is fully accessible to visitors using mobility devices. Accessible restrooms and gender-neutral facilities are available near the entrance, and designated parking spaces are reserved close by.