Great Lakes Aquarium — Aquarium in Duluth

3rd most complete listing in Minnesota

Great Lakes Aquarium and its collection

Great Lakes Aquarium, opened in 2000, is an aquarium in Duluth, United States.

It covers 62,000 sq ft and keeps 205 species of fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. It is among the few aquariums in the United States weighted towards freshwater displays, the main exhibits being modelled on real habitats of the Lake Superior basin.

History

The land was a gift from the philanthropists Julia and Caroline Marshall, and construction was paid for with state and local money together with more than $6 million in private giving. It opened on 29 July 2000, delays in the building work having cost roughly 30% of the revenue expected in the first year.

Exhibits

Its exhibits include Amazing Amazon, Aquatic Invaders, Baptism River, Freshwater Forest and H2O: Watersheds at Work.

Things to do

Things to do include touchpools, tactile tour and Harbor Cam.

Conservation and approach

By 2026 it was working with federal wildlife and state natural-resource agencies to raise lake sturgeon and release them.

What the venue says

touchpools
tactile tour
Harbor Cam
During the warmer months, the aquarium frequently hosts popular al fresco events right on the Duluth Harbor, featuring local food trucks, craft beverages, and live entertainment
Parking is available in the Great Lakes Aquarium parking lot for a fee.
The front entrance to the Aquarium is wheelchair accessible.
Accessible restrooms are available on all levels of the Aquarium.
All areas of the Aquarium are accessible for guests that use wheelchairs or other mobility aids.
Two elevators are available to move between exhibit floors.