Oregon Coast Aquarium facts for kids
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Main building at the aquarium
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| Date opened | May 23, 1992 |
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| Location | Newport, Oregon |
| Land area | 23 acres (9.3 ha) |
| No. of animals | 64,000+ |
| No. of species | 375 |
| Annual visitors | 450,000 (2012) |
The Oregon Coast Aquarium is a super cool place to visit in Newport, Oregon, right on the beautiful Oregon Coast in the U.S. state of Oregon. It first opened its doors in 1992 and covers a huge area of 23 acres next to Yaquina Bay, very close to the Pacific Ocean.
This aquarium was once home to Keiko, the famous orca whale who starred in the movie Free Willy! Keiko lived here from 1996 to 1998 before moving to Iceland. People love the Oregon Coast Aquarium so much that USA Today calls it "world-class," and Coastal Living magazine says it's one of the top ten aquariums in North America. It's a fantastic spot to learn about ocean life!
Contents
A Look Back: The Aquarium's History
The idea for an aquarium in Newport started in the early 1980s. Local business leaders thought it would be a great way to help the town's economy. They planned for a big facility and started raising money. By 1991, they had collected $11 million!
The aquarium was designed by several talented groups, including SRG Architects and BIOS:Inc. Construction began in August 1990. Workers built a large main building and four acres of outdoor exhibits.
On May 23, 1992, the Oregon Coast Aquarium officially opened. Thousands of people visited on the very first day! Important leaders like Senator Mark O. Hatfield and Governor Barbara Roberts were there to celebrate. The aquarium's first theme was all about following a raindrop's journey from the Oregon Coast Range mountains all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
A very special guest arrived on January 7, 1996: Keiko the orca whale! He flew in on a cargo plane, with the flight paid for by United Parcel Service. People, including many school children, raised money to build a special $7.8 million home for the movie star whale. Keiko had been living in an amusement park in Mexico City. In 1998, Keiko was moved to Iceland as part of a plan to help him return to living in the wild.
Amazing Exhibits to Explore
The Oregon Coast Aquarium focuses on showing off the amazing plants and animals that live right here on the Oregon Coast. It's a special place that is approved by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which means it meets high standards for animal care and education.
Inside the Main Building
The main building has four main areas to explore: Sandy Shores, Rocky Shores, Coastal Waters, and a special area for changing exhibits.
- The Sandy Shores exhibit shows you fish and invertebrates that live close to the shore or in bays like Yaquina Bay.
- As you move along, the Rocky Shores and Coastal Waters exhibits show animals from further out in the ocean. You can see a beautiful kelp forest and even a sea jelly exhibit!
- There are also exhibits with small marine life, like different kinds of jellyfish.
- Don't miss the tidepool exhibit where you can gently touch sea stars and sea anemones!
The aquarium also has temporary exhibits that change over time. Past ones have featured cool creatures like green-blooded cuttlefish and jet-powered chambered nautilus.
Passages of the Deep: Underwater Tunnels
The biggest exhibit is called "Passages of the Deep." This amazing area is actually in Keiko's old tank! You get to walk through clear acrylic tunnels that are surrounded by deep-water marine animals. Imagine seeing sharks, rays, and rockfish swimming all around you!
This exhibit has three parts:
- Orford Reef is home to many rockfish and other smaller fish from the Pacific Northwest.
- Halibut Flats features large fish like halibut and ling cod, plus a small ray. There's even a mock sunken ship!
- Open Sea is the last tunnel section. Here, you'll see many types of sharks, including seven gill sharks, along with rays, mackerel, anchovies, and salmon.
Seabird Aviary: Birds of the Coast
The aviary at the Oregon Coast Aquarium is a special place for sea and shore birds. You can see birds like the tufted puffin, common murre, rhinoceros auklet, pigeon guillemot, and the black oystercatcher. The aviary has two big pools and rocky cliffs, just like their natural homes.
Nature Play Area: Fun for Kids
The aquarium has a fun nature play area for kids. It has cool models of logs, which remind us of the area's history with timber. There's also a replica of an eagle's nest and a slide that looks like a river chute!
Outdoor Amphitheater: Learning Outdoors
The outdoor amphitheater is a space where you can watch educational presentations. Experts share interesting facts, and animal caretakers often bring animals out for demonstrations. It's a great way to learn more about the creatures at the aquarium.
Outdoor Exhibits: More Animals to See
Beyond the main building, there are even more outdoor exhibits. You can see marine mammals that live along the Oregon Coast, like playful sea otters, curious harbor seals, and noisy sea lions. There's even a coastal cave where a huge giant Pacific octopus lives! The rocks in these outdoor areas are specially made to look natural.
The aquarium also has a nature trail. This trail overlooks the Yaquina Bay estuary and is a great place to see native plants and sometimes even wild animals roaming freely.
Other Places to Explore Nearby
- Hatfield Marine Science Center: A place for marine research and education right next to the aquarium.
- Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area: A beautiful spot to see the protected Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge and a historic lighthouse, about 6 miles from the aquarium.
- Sea Lion Caves: A nearby tourist attraction close to Florence, Oregon, where you can see sea lions in their natural habitat.
- Oregon Undersea Gardens: Another underwater viewing attraction.
