Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk — Aquarium in Norwalk

Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk and its collection

Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, opened in 1988, is an aquarium in Norwalk, United States.

It is the sole aquarium dedicated to Long Island Sound, which is designated an estuary of national significance. The building covers about 140,000 square feet, with over 177,000 gallons in live-animal displays. More than 2,700 animals of over 300 species are held.

History

It opened on 16 July 1988 as the Maritime Center and was renamed in July 1996 to stress the live animal collection. The project began by converting an iron works of the 1860s into an IMAX cinema, and the original wood floors and beams survive near the Ray Touch Pool.

Animals and collection

Animals on show include Atlantic puffins, common murres and seals.

Exhibits

The collection covers harbour seals, sea turtles, otters, sharks, stingrays, jellies, crabs and lobsters, along with tropical species carried north by the Gulf Stream. The 2026 displays are Just Add Water, Pinniped Cove, Life Among the Grasses, Journey with Jellies and Meerkats!, together with a shark and ray touch pool.

Things to do

Things to do include 4D Theater, Sleepovers and touch tank.

What the venue says

• Outside food or drink is not permitted in our café unless otherwise allowed by management upon request.
• The Norwalk Parking Authority has more than 1,400 spaces available in three facilities, all located within one block of the Aquarium!
• We provide a variety of services, accommodations, and frequently asked questions for individuals and groups with special needs.
• Service animals, as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as dogs trained to perform a task directly related to a person's disability, are allowed at the Aquarium.