Oregon Coast Aquarium facts for kids
 |
|
Main building at the aquarium
|
|
| Date opened | May 23, 1992 |
|---|---|
| Location | Newport, Oregon |
| Land area | 23 acres (9.3 ha) |
| Coordinates | 44°37′04″N 124°02′50″W / 44.61784°N 124.04709°W |
| Annual visitors | 450,000 (2012) |
| Memberships | AZA |
The Oregon Coast Aquarium is a super cool place to explore ocean life! It's an aquarium located in Newport, a town in the beautiful state of Oregon. It first opened its doors in 1992. This amazing facility covers about 23 acres right next to Yaquina Bay, very close to the Pacific Ocean.
You might know the Oregon Coast Aquarium because it was once home to Keiko. Keiko was the famous orca who starred in the movie Free Willy! He lived here from 1996 to 1998 before moving to Iceland. Many people think this aquarium is one of the best. USA Today calls it "world-class," and Coastal Living magazine says it's among the top ten aquariums in North America!
Contents
History of the Aquarium
The idea for the Oregon Coast Aquarium started in the early 1980s. Business leaders in Newport wanted to build an aquarium. They thought it would help the local economy. In 1982, they suggested a $7 million facility.
Two years later, they officially formed a non-profit group. They worked hard to raise money. By 1991, they had collected $11 million! Plans for the aquarium were finalized in 1990. They decided to build it on 23 acres along Yaquina Bay. The goal was to create a "world-class" aquarium.
Construction on the first part of the aquarium began in August 1990. It included a large building and four acres of outdoor exhibits. Everyone hoped it would be ready by spring 1992.
Finally, on May 23, 1992, the Oregon Coast Aquarium opened! About 5,500 visitors came on the very first day. Important people like Senator Mark O. Hatfield and Governor Barbara Roberts were there. The aquarium's opening theme was about following a raindrop's journey. It showed how water travels from the Oregon Coast Range mountains all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
On January 7, 1996, something very exciting happened. Keiko the orca arrived! He flew in on a special cargo plane. This move happened because environmental groups and school children raised money. They wanted to build a $7.8 million home for the movie star whale in Oregon. Keiko stayed at the aquarium until 1998. Then, he was moved to Iceland. This was an effort to help him return to living in the wild.
In 2012, the aquarium welcomed 450,000 visitors. It continues to be a popular and important place for learning about ocean life.
Amazing Exhibits
The Oregon Coast Aquarium focuses on animals and plants that live along the Oregon Coast. It's a special place where you can see creatures native to this area. The aquarium is approved by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This means it meets high standards for animal care and education.
Main Building Wonders
Inside the main building, you'll find four main areas. These are Sandy Shores, Rocky Shores, Coastal Waters, and a changing exhibit space.
- Sandy Shores shows you fish and invertebrates. These animals live close to the shore or in bays, like Yaquina Bay.
- As you move through, you'll see exhibits featuring animals from further offshore.
- The journey ends with a beautiful kelp forest and a sea jelly exhibit.
- There are also special exhibits that change over time. These have featured cool creatures like crustaceans and unusual sea animals. For example, they've shown green-blooded cuttlefish and jet-powered chambered nautilus!
You can also see exhibits about small marine life. This includes amazing jellyfish. There's even a tidepool exhibit! Here, visitors can gently touch sea stars and sea anemones. It's a great way to feel connected to the ocean.
Passages of the Deep
One of the biggest and most exciting exhibits is "Passages of the Deep." This used to be Keiko's huge tank! Now, you can walk through clear acrylic tunnels. These tunnels are surrounded by deep-water marine animals. You'll see amazing sharks, graceful rays, and many different rockfish.
Passages of the Deep has three cool sections:
- Orford Reef is full of rockfish and other smaller fish from the Pacific Northwest.
- Halibut Flats features large fish like halibut and ling cod. You might even spot a small ray here! This section also has a pretend sunken ship.
- Open Sea is the final part of the tunnel. It's home to many kinds of sharks, including seven gill sharks. You'll also see rays, mackerel, anchovies, and salmon swimming all around you!
Seabird Aviary
The aviary at the Oregon Coast Aquarium is a special place for sea and shore birds. It's actually the largest outdoor Seabird Aviary in North America!
Here, you can see many different birds, including:
The seabird aviary has two large pools and rocky cliffs. These features make the birds feel right at home. The aquarium also has two turkey vultures in a separate outdoor area.
Outdoor Animal Exhibits
The outdoor exhibits are fantastic! They show marine mammals that live along the Oregon Coast. You can get up close to:
There's even a special coastal cave. This cave is home to a huge giant Pacific octopus! The rocks you see in the outdoor exhibits are actually artificial. They are made to look just like real rocks.
The Aquarium also has a nature trail. This trail overlooks the Yaquina Bay estuary. It's a great place to see native plants and even some free-roaming wildlife!
