Shedd Aquarium
Encyclopedia
The John G. Shedd Aquarium is an indoor public aquarium
in Chicago
, Illinois
in the United States
that opened on May 30, 1930. The aquarium contains over 25,000 fish, and was for some time the largest indoor aquarium in the world with 5000000 gallons (18,927,060 l) of water. The Shedd Aquarium was the first inland aquarium with a permanent saltwater
fish collection. It is surrounded by Museum Campus Chicago
, which it shares with the Adler Planetarium
and the Field Museum of Natural History
. The aquarium has 2 million annual visitors; it was the most visited aquarium in the U.S. in 2005, and in 2007, it surpassed the Field Museum as the most popular cultural attraction in Chicago. It contains 1500 species including fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians, and insects. The aquarium received awards for best exhibit from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(AZA) for Seahorse Symphony in 1999, Amazon Rising in 2001, and Wild Reef in 2004.
, a protégé of Marshall Field
(benefactor of the adjacent Field Museum), to the city of Chicago. Although Shedd only lived long enough to see the architect's first drawings for the aquarium, his widow, Mary R. Shedd, cut the ribbon at the official opening ceremony.
Groundbreaking took place on November 2, 1927, and construction was completed on December 19, 1929; the first exhibits were opened on May 30, 1930. As one of the first inland aquariums in the world, the Shedd had to rely on a custom-made railroad car, the Nautilus, for the transport of fish and seawater. The Nautilus lasted until 1959.
In 1930, 20 railroad tank car
s made eight round trips between Key West
and Chicago
to transport 1000000 gallons (3,785,412 l) of seawater for the Shedd’s saltwater
exhibits. In 1933, Chicago hosted its second world's fair
, the Century of Progress
. The Aquarium was located immediately north of the fairgrounds, and the museum gained exposure to a large international crowd.
In 1971, the Shedd Aquarium added one of its most popular exhibits, a 90000 gallons (340,687.1 l) exhibit reproducing a Caribbean
coral reef
. That same year, the aquarium acquired its first research vessel
, a 75-foot (23 m) boat for exploring the Caribbean, manned by a crew to conduct field research and collect specimens. In 1985, this boat was replaced with the aquarium's current vessel, the Coral Reef II.
John Shedd's grandson, John Shedd Reed
, who had served as president of Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad from 1967 to 1986, was president of the aquarium's board from 1984 until 1994, and was a life trustee until his death in 2008. Ted A. Beattie has been the president
and CEO of the aquarium since 1994.
In 1991, the Shedd Aquarium opened its Oceanarium, a large addition to the aquarium that features many marine mammals, including Pacific white-sided dolphin
s and belugas. The main 3000000 gallons (11,356,236 l) tank made it the largest indoor marine mammal facility in the world. The aquarium also boasts a number of sea otter
s; the core of this collection was a group rescued from the Exxon Valdez oil spill
in 1989. In the Fall of 2008, the Shedd's Ocenarium was closed for preventative sealing as well as administrative upgrades. The animals in the exhibit area were put on loan to other facilities nationwide until the exhibit reopened in May 2009.
The Shedd's newest permanent exhibit, Wild Reef, opened in 2003. Located two levels below the main building, the 750000 gallons (2,839,059 l) Wild Reef exhibit recreates a Philippine coral reef and is based on the Apo Island
Marine reserve
, complete with living coral
, multiple species of fish
and rays, and a collection of shark
s. The main draw of this attraction is a 400000 gallons (1,514,164.8 l) shark exhibit with 12 feet (3.7 m) high curved windows, allowing visitors a diver's-eye view. The Wild Reef exhibit also features a saltwater tank display area where coral is propagated and grown for conservation purposes.
, and Wild Reef.
named Faust, which concluded in the summer of 2008. Currently on display until summer of 2012 is Jellies, which features many varieties of sea jellies such as the Atlantic Sea Nettle, Blue Blubber Jelly, Flower Hat Jelly, Lion's Mane Jelly, Moon Jelly and much more.
and the surrounding jungle
. This exhibit contains 250 different species
, and its highest water level is 6 feet. Species from this area on exhibit include anacondas, piranhas, spiders, rays and crocodiles.
. Above the waterline, there are bleachers where guests can watch the aquatic show, while below the waterline, guests can see the Beluga Whales and Dolphins up close. Animals in the Oceanarium include Sea Otters, Sea Lions, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, and Beluga Whales. It was remodeled in 2009.
during the Century of Progress
world exposition. During the expo's run, they attracted about 4.5 million visitors.
Although Granddad's mate died in 1980, he is still alive and is claimed by the aquarium to be the oldest fish in any aquarium in the world. He is at least 86 and possibly older; he weighs 25 pounds (11.3 kg) and is 4 feet (1.2 m) in length. His normal behavior is to hang out like a sunken log on the bottom of his habitat.
Kayavak
, a young beluga whale, is one of the most famous residents of the Oceanarium. The whale became an orphan at only five months old after her mother, Immiayuk, died. Trainers fed Kayavak fish, cared for her day and night, taught her how to "be a whale," and she thrived to be the healthy adult she is today.
Puiji, another of the Shedd Aquarium's beluga Whales, gave birth to a 162-pound, five-foot, four-inch male calf Dec. 14 now recently named "NUNAVIK" meaning "friendly, beautiful, and wild". The calf is doing well so far. He debuted to the public on Sunday, January 24, 2010.
Another female Beluga, named Naya, gave birth on December 20 to a 162-pound, five-foot two-inch male calf, though the calf died two days later from complications during birth.
On Wednesday, October 26th 2011 it was reported that Puiji had died following a seizure after having been undergoing treatment for an undisclosed medical condition over the course of several months.
oil spill survivor), Kachemaek, Yaku, Mari, and Kiana
, Bella, Miki, and the most recent calf Nunavik.
. The basic design, by architectural firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White
, is taken from classical Greek architecture
, more exactly Beaux Arts, to match the other structures of the Museum Campus. The central aquarium building is octagonal, fronted by Doric
columns and a formal staircase and topped by a dome
. Aquatic motifs are worked in at every opportunity; tortoise shells, dolphins, octopuses, waves, and even the Trident
of Poseidon
can be found all over the aquarium's exterior and interior. Improving upon its predecessor inland aquarium, the Belle Isle Aquarium
in Detroit, extensive use was made of designs by Mary Chase Perry Stratton
, incorporating her custom-made Pewabic Pottery
tile. The Oceanarium is done in a more modern style representing the Pacific Northwest, but one that blends with the older part of the building. "Whale Harbor", the Oceanarium's 3000000 gallons (11,356,236 l) main tank, is backed by a wall of windows that look out onto Lake Michigan
.
Public aquarium
A public aquarium is the aquatic counterpart of a zoo, housing living aquatic species for viewing. Most public aquariums feature tanks larger than those kept by home aquarists, as well as smaller tanks. Since the first public aquariums were built in the mid-19th century, they have become popular...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that opened on May 30, 1930. The aquarium contains over 25,000 fish, and was for some time the largest indoor aquarium in the world with 5000000 gallons (18,927,060 l) of water. The Shedd Aquarium was the first inland aquarium with a permanent saltwater
Seawater
Seawater is water from a sea or ocean. On average, seawater in the world's oceans has a salinity of about 3.5% . This means that every kilogram of seawater has approximately of dissolved salts . The average density of seawater at the ocean surface is 1.025 g/ml...
fish collection. It is surrounded by Museum Campus Chicago
Museum Campus Chicago
Museum Campus Chicago is a lakefront park in Chicago that surrounds three of the city's most notable museums, all dedicated to the natural sciences: the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Field Museum of Natural History...
, which it shares with the Adler Planetarium
Adler Planetarium
The Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum in Chicago, Illinois was the first planetarium built in the Western Hemisphere and is the oldest in existence today. Adler was founded and built in 1930 by the philanthropist Max Adler, with the assistance of the first director of the planetarium, Philip Fox...
and the Field Museum of Natural History
Field Museum of Natural History
The Field Museum of Natural History is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It sits on Lake Shore Drive next to Lake Michigan, part of a scenic complex known as the Museum Campus Chicago...
. The aquarium has 2 million annual visitors; it was the most visited aquarium in the U.S. in 2005, and in 2007, it surpassed the Field Museum as the most popular cultural attraction in Chicago. It contains 1500 species including fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians, and insects. The aquarium received awards for best exhibit from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums was founded in 1924 and is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and public aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.The AZA headquarters is located in Silver...
(AZA) for Seahorse Symphony in 1999, Amazon Rising in 2001, and Wild Reef in 2004.
History
The Shedd Aquarium was the gift of retail leader John G. SheddJohn G. Shedd
John Graves Shedd was the second president and chairman of the board of Marshall Field & Company.Born on a New Hampshire farm, Shedd arrived in Chicago, Illinois in 1871 and began working as a stock clerk for Marshall Field. By 1901, he had worked his way up to a vice-presidency and took over as...
, a protégé of Marshall Field
Marshall Field
Marshall Field was founder of Marshall Field and Company, the Chicago-based department stores.-Life and career:...
(benefactor of the adjacent Field Museum), to the city of Chicago. Although Shedd only lived long enough to see the architect's first drawings for the aquarium, his widow, Mary R. Shedd, cut the ribbon at the official opening ceremony.
Groundbreaking took place on November 2, 1927, and construction was completed on December 19, 1929; the first exhibits were opened on May 30, 1930. As one of the first inland aquariums in the world, the Shedd had to rely on a custom-made railroad car, the Nautilus, for the transport of fish and seawater. The Nautilus lasted until 1959.
In 1930, 20 railroad tank car
Tank car
A tank car is a type of railroad rolling stock designed to transport liquid and gaseous commodities.-Timeline:...
s made eight round trips between Key West
Key West
Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida on the North American continent at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys. Key West is home to the southernmost point in the Continental United States; the island is about from Cuba....
and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to transport 1000000 gallons (3,785,412 l) of seawater for the Shedd’s saltwater
Seawater
Seawater is water from a sea or ocean. On average, seawater in the world's oceans has a salinity of about 3.5% . This means that every kilogram of seawater has approximately of dissolved salts . The average density of seawater at the ocean surface is 1.025 g/ml...
exhibits. In 1933, Chicago hosted its second world's fair
World's Fair
World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All...
, the Century of Progress
Century of Progress
A Century of Progress International Exposition was the name of a World's Fair held in Chicago from 1933 to 1934 to celebrate the city's centennial. The theme of the fair was technological innovation...
. The Aquarium was located immediately north of the fairgrounds, and the museum gained exposure to a large international crowd.
In 1971, the Shedd Aquarium added one of its most popular exhibits, a 90000 gallons (340,687.1 l) exhibit reproducing a Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
coral reef
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
. That same year, the aquarium acquired its first research vessel
Research vessel
A research vessel is a ship designed and equipped to carry out research at sea. Research vessels carry out a number of roles. Some of these roles can be combined into a single vessel, others require a dedicated vessel...
, a 75-foot (23 m) boat for exploring the Caribbean, manned by a crew to conduct field research and collect specimens. In 1985, this boat was replaced with the aquarium's current vessel, the Coral Reef II.
John Shedd's grandson, John Shedd Reed
John Shedd Reed
John Shedd Reed was president of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway from 1967 until 1986. The rail transport industry journal Modern Railways named Reed its Man of the Year for 1970....
, who had served as president of Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad from 1967 to 1986, was president of the aquarium's board from 1984 until 1994, and was a life trustee until his death in 2008. Ted A. Beattie has been the president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and CEO of the aquarium since 1994.
In 1991, the Shedd Aquarium opened its Oceanarium, a large addition to the aquarium that features many marine mammals, including Pacific white-sided dolphin
Pacific White-sided Dolphin
The Pacific White-sided Dolphin is a very active dolphin found in the cool to temperate waters of the North Pacific Ocean.-Taxonomy:...
s and belugas. The main 3000000 gallons (11,356,236 l) tank made it the largest indoor marine mammal facility in the world. The aquarium also boasts a number of sea otter
Sea Otter
The sea otter is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg , making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals...
s; the core of this collection was a group rescued from the Exxon Valdez oil spill
Exxon Valdez oil spill
The Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred in Prince William Sound, Alaska, on March 24, 1989, when the Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker bound for Long Beach, California, struck Prince William Sound's Bligh Reef and spilled of crude oil. It is considered to be one of the most devastating human-caused...
in 1989. In the Fall of 2008, the Shedd's Ocenarium was closed for preventative sealing as well as administrative upgrades. The animals in the exhibit area were put on loan to other facilities nationwide until the exhibit reopened in May 2009.
The Shedd's newest permanent exhibit, Wild Reef, opened in 2003. Located two levels below the main building, the 750000 gallons (2,839,059 l) Wild Reef exhibit recreates a Philippine coral reef and is based on the Apo Island
Apo Island
Apo Island is a volcanic island covering 12 hectares in land area, 7 kilometers off the southeastern tip of Negros Island and 30 kilometers south of the Negros Oriental capital of Dumaguete City in the Philippines....
Marine reserve
Marine reserve
For the United States Marine Corps Reserve see: Marine Forces ReserveA marine reserve is an area of the sea which has legal protection against fishing or development. This is to be distinguished from a marine park, but there is some overlap in usage...
, complete with living coral
Coral
Corals are marine animals in class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.A coral "head" is a colony of...
, multiple species of fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
and rays, and a collection of shark
Shark
Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
s. The main draw of this attraction is a 400000 gallons (1,514,164.8 l) shark exhibit with 12 feet (3.7 m) high curved windows, allowing visitors a diver's-eye view. The Wild Reef exhibit also features a saltwater tank display area where coral is propagated and grown for conservation purposes.
Exhibits
There are five permanent exhibits at the Shedd: Amazon Rising, Caribbean Reef, Waters of the World, the OceanariumOceanarium
An oceanarium can be either a marine mammal park, such as Marineland of Florida, or a large-scale aquarium, such as the Lisbon Oceanarium, presenting an ocean habitat with marine animals, especially large ocean dwellers such as sharks.- Marine mammal parks :...
, and Wild Reef.
Temporary Exhibits
The temporary exhibits include the Lizards and the Komodo King, which features a Komodo dragonKomodo dragon
The Komodo dragon , also known as the Komodo monitor, is a large species of lizard found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang and Gili Dasami. A member of the monitor lizard family , it is the largest living species of lizard, growing to a maximum length of in rare cases...
named Faust, which concluded in the summer of 2008. Currently on display until summer of 2012 is Jellies, which features many varieties of sea jellies such as the Atlantic Sea Nettle, Blue Blubber Jelly, Flower Hat Jelly, Lion's Mane Jelly, Moon Jelly and much more.
Amazon Rising
The Amazon Rising exhibit is a 8600 square feet (799 m²) walkthrough flooded forest recreation of the Amazon riverAmazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
and the surrounding jungle
Jungle
A Jungle is an area of land in the tropics overgrown with dense vegetation.The word jungle originates from the Sanskrit word jangala which referred to uncultivated land. Although the Sanskrit word refers to "dry land", it has been suggested that an Anglo-Indian interpretation led to its...
. This exhibit contains 250 different species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, and its highest water level is 6 feet. Species from this area on exhibit include anacondas, piranhas, spiders, rays and crocodiles.
The Caribbean Reef
The Caribbean Reef exhibit was built in 1971, on the site of the aquarium's very first exhibit, the Tropical Pool. A feature of this exhibit is a diver that interacts with the animals while talking with the people. A part of the exhibit is a 90000 gallons (340,687.1 l) circular tank that allows for maximum walk-around viewing. the tank is near the center of the first floor, and is within walking distance of Amazon rising, Waters of the World and Wild Reef.Waters of the World
Explore several different galleries that feature exhibits on Oceans, Rivers, Islands and Lakes, and Chicago's own Local Waters. Species on exhibit include mantella frogs, a giant octopus, Nile knifefish, Grand Cayman blue iguanas, sea stars, seahorses, Alligator snapping turtle, and River otter.The Wild Reef
This exhibit was added to the aquarium's main collection in 2003. This 27,500 sq ft wing is located underground just off the main foyer. The largest habitat holds 400,000 gallons and several differant species of sharks. Other displays include live corals, a mangrove forest, and a re-created Filipino Fishing village.The Abbott Oceanarium
The Oceanarium is split into two levels, above and below the waterlineWaterline
The term "waterline" generally refers to the line where the hull of a ship meets the water surface. It is also the name of a special marking, also known as the national Load Line or Plimsoll Line, to be positioned amidships, that indicates the draft of the ship and the legal limit to which a ship...
. Above the waterline, there are bleachers where guests can watch the aquatic show, while below the waterline, guests can see the Beluga Whales and Dolphins up close. Animals in the Oceanarium include Sea Otters, Sea Lions, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, and Beluga Whales. It was remodeled in 2009.
Granddad
Walter Chute, the aquarium's director from 1928 to 1964, wanted rare fishes to attract the 10 million tourists expected to visit Chicago for the exposition in 1933. Granddad, an Australian lungfish, arrived at the Shedd in 1933, along with his mate, from SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
during the Century of Progress
Century of Progress
A Century of Progress International Exposition was the name of a World's Fair held in Chicago from 1933 to 1934 to celebrate the city's centennial. The theme of the fair was technological innovation...
world exposition. During the expo's run, they attracted about 4.5 million visitors.
Although Granddad's mate died in 1980, he is still alive and is claimed by the aquarium to be the oldest fish in any aquarium in the world. He is at least 86 and possibly older; he weighs 25 pounds (11.3 kg) and is 4 feet (1.2 m) in length. His normal behavior is to hang out like a sunken log on the bottom of his habitat.
Beluga whales
In 2000, Mauyak gave birth to Qannik, who was sent to Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma where he died in 2009. In 2006, the Beluga whale Puiji gave birth to a female calf, later named Bella. On August 16, 2007 Mauyak gave birth yet again to a male calf named Miki, the Inuit word for small, bringing the total number of successful beluga calf births at the aquarium to four since 1999.Kayavak
Kayavak
Kayavak is a female beluga whale that currently resides at the Shedd Aquarium in downtown Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is the only daughter of the mother beluga named Immiayuk...
, a young beluga whale, is one of the most famous residents of the Oceanarium. The whale became an orphan at only five months old after her mother, Immiayuk, died. Trainers fed Kayavak fish, cared for her day and night, taught her how to "be a whale," and she thrived to be the healthy adult she is today.
Puiji, another of the Shedd Aquarium's beluga Whales, gave birth to a 162-pound, five-foot, four-inch male calf Dec. 14 now recently named "NUNAVIK" meaning "friendly, beautiful, and wild". The calf is doing well so far. He debuted to the public on Sunday, January 24, 2010.
Another female Beluga, named Naya, gave birth on December 20 to a 162-pound, five-foot two-inch male calf, though the calf died two days later from complications during birth.
On Wednesday, October 26th 2011 it was reported that Puiji had died following a seizure after having been undergoing treatment for an undisclosed medical condition over the course of several months.
Alaska Sea Otters
Kenai (Exxon ValdezExxon Valdez
Oriental Nicety, formerly Exxon Valdez, Exxon Mediterranean, SeaRiver Mediterranean, S/R Mediterranean, Mediterranean, and Dong Fang Ocean is an oil tanker that gained notoriety after running aground in Prince William Sound spilling hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil in Alaska...
oil spill survivor), Kachemaek, Yaku, Mari, and Kiana
Beluga Whales
Mauyak, Naya, KayavakKayavak
Kayavak is a female beluga whale that currently resides at the Shedd Aquarium in downtown Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is the only daughter of the mother beluga named Immiayuk...
, Bella, Miki, and the most recent calf Nunavik.
- Naluark was transferred to Mystic Aquarium & Institute for ExplorationMystic Aquarium & Institute for ExplorationThe Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration is an aquarium and oceanography institute in Mystic, Connecticut. The Aquarium is one of only four U.S. facilities nation where people can see Steller sea lions and has one of the largest outdoor Beluga Whale exhibits in the United States. It is also...
in Mystic, Connecticut in October 2011. - Puiji, a 25-year-old female, and the last remaining of Shedd's original whales, died on October 26, 2011.
Pacific White-sided Dolphins
Katrl, Piquet,Tique*, and Kri.- Tique's unnamed female calf died Thursday, June 9, 2011 after starting to nurse much later than expected. An autopsy failed to give immediate results for cause of death.
- Ohana, on loan from the Miami Seaquarium, was returned home to Florida in 2011.
Fantasea
Fantasea is a multiple animal show at the Shedd Aquarium, beginning on October 16, 2009 and ran through 2010. The show features sea lions, beluga whales, penguins, hawks, and dolphins.Architecture
Shedd Aquarium is also notable for its architectureArchitecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
. The basic design, by architectural firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White
Graham, Anderson, Probst & White
Graham, Anderson, Probst & White is a Chicago architecture firm that was founded in 1912 originally as Graham, Burnham & Co. This firm was the successor to D. H. Burnham & Co. by Daniel Burnham's surviving partner Ernest Graham and Burnham's sons Hubert Burnham and Daniel Burnham Jr...
, is taken from classical Greek architecture
Architecture of Ancient Greece
The architecture of Ancient Greece is the architecture produced by the Greek-speaking people whose culture flourished on the Greek mainland and Peloponnesus, the Aegean Islands, and in colonies in Asia Minor and Italy for a period from about 900 BC until the 1st century AD, with the earliest...
, more exactly Beaux Arts, to match the other structures of the Museum Campus. The central aquarium building is octagonal, fronted by Doric
Doric order
The Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian.-History:...
columns and a formal staircase and topped by a dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
. Aquatic motifs are worked in at every opportunity; tortoise shells, dolphins, octopuses, waves, and even the Trident
Trident
A trident , also called a trishul or leister or gig, is a three-pronged spear. It is used for spear fishing and was also a military weapon. Tridents are featured widely in mythical, historical and modern culture. The major Hindu god, Shiva the Destroyer and the sea god Poseidon or Neptune are...
of Poseidon
Poseidon
Poseidon was the god of the sea, and, as "Earth-Shaker," of the earthquakes in Greek mythology. The name of the sea-god Nethuns in Etruscan was adopted in Latin for Neptune in Roman mythology: both were sea gods analogous to Poseidon...
can be found all over the aquarium's exterior and interior. Improving upon its predecessor inland aquarium, the Belle Isle Aquarium
Belle Isle Aquarium
The Belle Isle Aquarium, located on Belle Isle Park in Detroit, Michigan, was the oldest continually-operating aquarium in North America. Designed by noted architect Albert Kahn, it opened on August 18, 1904 and closed April 3, 2005 [...
in Detroit, extensive use was made of designs by Mary Chase Perry Stratton
Mary Chase Perry Stratton
Mary Chase Perry Stratton was an American ceramic artist. She was a co-founder, along with Horace James Caulkins, of Pewabic Pottery, a form of ceramic art used to make architectural tiles.-Early years:...
, incorporating her custom-made Pewabic Pottery
Pewabic Pottery
Pewabic Pottery is a studio and school located in Detroit, Michigan and founded in 1903. The studio is known for its iridescent glazes, some of which grace notable buildings such as the Shedd Aquarium and Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Pewabic Pottery is on display...
tile. The Oceanarium is done in a more modern style representing the Pacific Northwest, but one that blends with the older part of the building. "Whale Harbor", the Oceanarium's 3000000 gallons (11,356,236 l) main tank, is backed by a wall of windows that look out onto Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
.
External links
- "Fish Find Comforts of Home in New Aquarium", July 1930, pp. 116-117 1930 article on aquarium to be built with detailed drawings