Downtown Aquarium, Houston

Downtown Aquarium, Houston and its collection

Downtown Aquarium, Houston, opened in 2003, is an aquarium in Houston, United States.

The aquarium occupies 6 acres at 410 Bagby Street, reusing two landmark buildings. More than 200 aquatic species are held in 500,000 US gallons of tanks, and the site also holds banquet space, a bar and two eateries.

History

The city issued a call for proposals in 1999 to redevelop Fire Station No.1 on Bagby and the nearby waterworks, and in mid-2000 Landry's scheme won out over a Post and Cordish bid. The waterworks was earmarked as a shark and ray habitat.

Exhibits

Aquarium Adventure, in the main building, has five themed zones plus a tiger habitat and hands-on displays. The Louisiana Swamp zone shows Gulf Coast marsh life: alligators, tarpon, spotted gar and catfish. A walk-through shipwreck mimics the hull of a 17th-century Spanish galleon, with reef life, a giant Pacific octopus and a moray eel.

What the venue says

• Shark Voyage Train Ride
• Stingray Reef
• A full-service, upscale restaurant featuring a massive 150,000-gallon centerpiece aquarium tank where diners can eat surrounded by aquatic views.
• A dedicated paid parking lot is located directly behind the facility. Self-parking runs around $15, with options for valet parking available, payable digitally or via the lot's payment systems.
• The entire facility is ADA-compliant, featuring wheelchair-accessible entrances, parking lots, restrooms, and seating options.