Key West Aquarium facts for kids
Aquarium entrance
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| Date opened | 1934 |
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| Location | Key West, Florida, United States |
| Coordinates | 24°33′33″N 81°48′26″W / 24.5590437°N 81.8073156°W |
The Key West Aquarium is a super cool place to explore marine life in Key West, Florida, United States. It's the only public aquarium in Key West and is located right at 1 Whitehead Street. You can spot it by Historic Marker 52!
Contents
Discovering the Key West Aquarium's Past
The Key West Aquarium has a long and interesting history. It was built between 1932 and 1934, making it one of Florida's oldest aquariums. When it first opened its doors in 1935, it was quite special. Adults paid just 15 cents to get in, and kids paid only 5 cents!
How the Aquarium Started
This amazing aquarium was first thought up by Dr. Robert Van Deusen. He was the director of another aquarium in Philadelphia. The Key West Aquarium was unique because it was originally an open-air aquarium. This meant it didn't have a roof over all the tanks, which was very new and exciting at the time. It was one of the first and largest of its kind in the United States.
Building During Tough Times
The aquarium was built during a difficult period called the Great Depression. This was a time when many people didn't have jobs and money was scarce. Key West faced big economic problems. To help, the federal government stepped in. They believed Key West's sunny weather and beautiful location would make it a great place for tourists.
So, a government program called the Works Project Administration (WPA) helped build the aquarium. This project created jobs and gave people a reason to visit Key West.
Modern Updates and Awards
The Key West Aquarium has been updated over the years. Recently, it got some cool new features like air conditioning! In 2023, a new front entrance was finished, making the aquarium look even better.
Clinton Curry, who helps run Historic Tours of America, worked on these updates. He wanted the exhibits to tell the story of the amazing sea creatures and the people who work in the waters around the Florida Keys.
Because of these great improvements, the City of Key West received a special "Award of Excellence." This award recognized their hard work in making the Key West Aquarium even better for everyone to enjoy.
Exploring Marine Life: Exhibits
The Key West Aquarium is home to many different kinds of sea animals. You can see fascinating exhibits featuring alligators, fish from the Atlantic shore, beautiful jellyfish, powerful sharks, and gentle sea turtles.
Get Hands-On: The Touch Tank
One of the most popular parts of the aquarium is the touch tank! Here, you can gently touch and learn about various sea creatures. You might get to feel a conch, a sea star, a slate pencil sea urchin, a sea cucumber, a hermit crab, or even a horseshoe crab. It's a great way to connect with ocean life!
The Aquarium in Books
The Key West Aquarium has even inspired writers! A famous poet named James Merrill wrote about it in his poem called Key West Aquarium: The Sawfish.
See also
In Spanish: Acuario de Key West para niños
