Philadelphia Aquarium facts for kids
WPA poster, 1937
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| Date opened | November 23, 1911 |
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| Date closed | 1962 |
| Location | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 39°57′59″N 75°11′01″W / 39.9663408°N 75.1835954°W |
The Philadelphia Aquarium was one of America's very first aquariums. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, right by the Schuylkill River. From 1911 to 1962, it was part of Fairmount Park.
This aquarium was special because it was built inside the old Fairmount Water Works buildings. These buildings used to help provide water for the city.
Contents
History of the Aquarium
By 1909, Philadelphia had newer ways to filter its water. This meant the old Fairmount Water Works buildings were no longer needed for their original job. The land where the waterworks' reservoir once stood later became home to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Creating a New Aquarium
On May 16, 1911, Philadelphia's mayor signed a law to create an aquarium. The plan was to use the old waterworks buildings. About $1,500 was first given to set up a small, temporary aquarium. This temporary space would later become a lecture hall.
The main idea was to teach people about fish. Visitors could learn about where fish live, how they have babies, and what they do. The aquarium focused especially on fish found in Pennsylvania. This was a new and exciting idea at the time. It was inspired by similar fish exhibits at the World's Fairs in 1893 and 1904.
Opening Day and Early Years
The Philadelphia Aquarium opened its doors on Thanksgiving Day in 1911. It started with nineteen small tanks. There were also regular talks about ocean life, often with drawings by artist "Biggie" Grover Simcox.
At first, the aquarium tried to use water from the Schuylkill River for its exhibits. However, this water was too dirty for the fish. So, the aquarium quickly switched to using clean city water instead.
In 1912, all the old machinery was removed from two large buildings. These buildings were then turned into the main exhibit halls. The larger hall, about 200 by 50 feet, held freshwater fish. The smaller one, about 100 by 50 feet, was for saltwater fish. The buildings didn't need many changes. Their flat roofs, which used to be public spaces, were perfect for adding skylights. These skylights helped light up the fish tanks.
The aquarium was very popular! In its first year, 290,000 people visited. By 1929, it was one of the four biggest aquariums in the world.
Why the Aquarium Closed
After World War II, the aquarium faced tough times. It didn't get enough money and wasn't properly cared for. People tried to save it, but by 1962, the Philadelphia Aquarium had to close.
After closing, the building was used as an indoor swimming pool for a while. That pool closed in 1973. More recently, the historic buildings have been used for events, tours, and even a restaurant.
See also
