

In 1971, the aquarium added a new Oceanarium exhibit, which features a 90-foot-wide, 24-foot-deep pool that is home to Pacific white-sided dolphins, beluga whales, and sea otters. Over the years, the Shedd Aquarium has continued to grow and evolve. The aquarium also featured a research facility, a library, and a lecture hall. Its exhibits showcased a variety of aquatic life, including fish, sea turtles, dolphins, whales, and more. When it first opened, the Shedd Aquarium was the largest indoor aquarium in the world, with a total water volume of 5 million gallons. The aquarium was built in the Beaux-Arts style and is located on the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago's Museum Campus. The Shedd Aquarium was designed by the architectural firm of Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, who also designed several other notable Chicago landmarks such as the Wrigley Building and the Merchandise Mart. Construction began in 1927, and the aquarium was completed in 1930 at a cost of $3.5 million. In 1924, he donated $2 million to the city of Chicago to build an aquarium that would be world-class in its design and facilities. Shedd was a successful businessman who made his fortune in the wholesale dry goods business. It was opened in 1930 and is named after its founder, John G. Chicago was most recently updated with new tips on June 22, 2017.The Shedd Aquarium is an indoor public aquarium located in Chicago, Illinois.

Our Chicago editorial team is constantly updating and reviewing the best attractions, activities and venues across the city, so that you're always in the know, with the best of Chicago at your fingertips. The penguin encounter, for instance, allows guests to meet a real penguin and learn more about the animal's population. You might want to schedule a repeat visit to check out live jazz music and cocktails at Jazzin' at the Shedd or plan an Extraordinary Experience with an animal. It's easy to spend an entire day wandering through the Shedd, but we recommend identifying a handful of must-see exhibits before you go to prioritize your time. The aquarium boasts seven permanent exhibits including Amazon Rising with colorful fish, stingrays and an anaconda the Abbott Oceanarium with beluga whales, dolphins, sea lions and sea otters and the Wild Reef with sharks, stingrays and live coral. Families looking to maximize their time at the Shedd should book their tickets in advance, as the wait time for tickets can add up over the weekends. For an additional fee, those looking to get up close and personal with the aquarium's inhabitants should consider an Extraordinary Experiences package, with options like shark feeding and a beluga or penguin encounter. General admission includes all permanent exhibits, animal presentations, the Amphibians special exhibit and Stingray Touch (late May to October). Everything you need to know about visiting Shedd Aquarium (1200 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago IL 60605)Īnchoring the aquatic offerings at this Chicago institution are enduring favorites such as piranhas, frogs and snakes of the Amazon rays, turtles and moray eel of the Caribbean frightening predator sharks, mesmerizing jellies, adorable penguins and marine mammals like sea lions and otters.
