The New York Aquarium and Boardwalk: Marine Wonders by the Sea
Why is it significant?
Pause along the boardwalk at West Eighth Street, where the undulating steel mesh shimmering wall of the New York Aquarium catches the sea breeze.
Key Facts
| Place | The New York Aquarium and Boardwalk: Marine Wonders by the Sea |
|---|---|
| Address | Surf Ave & W 8th St, Brooklyn, NY 11224, USA |
| Geo Coordinates | 40.57480, -73.97400 |
| Part of Walk | New York: Coney Island Boardwalk and Vintage Amusements |
| Generated | Generated |
Pause along the boardwalk at West Eighth Street, where the undulating steel mesh shimmering wall of the New York Aquarium catches the sea breeze. Operated by the Wildlife Conservation Society, this is the oldest continuously operating public aquarium in the United States, originally opened in 1896 inside Castle Clinton at Battery Park in lower Manhattan. In 1957, the city relocated the institution to these expansive fourteen-acre seaside grounds in Coney Island, providing direct access to Atlantic marine waters.
The aquarium's crowning architectural jewel is the dramatic Ocean Wonders: Sharks! pavilion, opened in 2018. Clad in a fifty-thousand-square-foot shimmering shimmer wall comprised of seventy-three thousand kinetic aluminum tiles that flutter in the ocean wind, the pavilion houses five hundred thousand gallons of salt water. Inside, visitors walk through an underwater acrylic tunnel surrounded by eighteen species of sharks, giant sea turtles, and graceful rays gliding inches above their heads. Through hands-on public education and world-class scientific research, the aquarium inspires urban visitors of all ages to protect regional marine ecosystems and become active stewards of the global ocean.
The institution is an international leader in coastal marine conservation. Scientists here monitor the recovering whale populations of the New York Bight, rescue stranded sea turtles and seals along regional beaches, and restore oyster reefs in the harbor. Outside along the boardwalk, the Aquatheater features California sea lions demonstrating their agility while trainers educate visitors on ocean plastic pollution.
Listen to the barking sea lions echoing over the crash of Atlantic waves, a reminder that wild ocean life thrives alongside the bustling city. Marine biologists continue to lead vital oceanic research, protecting delicate coastal waters for future generations of New Yorkers.
Continue east along the wooden planks of the Riegelmann Boardwalk toward Ocean Parkway, entering a tranquil stretch of seaside promenade.