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The National Aquarium is a nonprofit aquatic education and conservation organization with two locations and one mission: to inspire conservation of the world’s aquatic treasures. In 2003, separate aquariums in Baltimore, MD, and Washington, DC, joined as one “National Aquarium.” The National Aquarium venues together hold living collections that include more than 16,000 animals from more than 660 species of fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals living in award-winning, naturalistic habitats.
The National Aquarium recently said it will close its Washington branch in the fall. It was announced Thursday that renovations at the Department of Commerce building that the aquarium has called home since 1932 make the move necessary. Aquarium officials say they must leave by March 2014, but the aquarium will close Sept. 30 and begin moving the 1,500 animals housed there to the National Aquarium in Baltimore and other facilities.
The press release stated: The Board of Directors of the National Aquarium, Washington, DC, has announced that, due to necessary renovations in the Department of Commerce building, the facility will be closing on September 30, 2013. The General Services Administration (GSA) requires National Aquarium to vacate its current space in the building by March 2014.
This September 30 closing date allows National Aquarium, Washington, DC, to meet GSA’s March deadline using a timeline that accommodates its main priority: the needs of its animals and staff. The collection of more than 1,500 animals will be transitioned to new homes at either National Aquarium, Baltimore, or at other accredited aquariums.
“Here at the National Aquarium, we value our DC venue’s rich history as the nation’s first public aquarium, and we are committed to maintaining a presence in the capital, where a public aquarium has existed since the late 1800s,” said Tamika Langley Tremaglio, National Aquarium, Washington, DC, Board Chair.
A task force of National Aquarium Board members is exploring opportunities and funding options that would support this goal. The closure will not impact the operation of National Aquarium, Baltimore, one of the nation’s leading aquariums.
Established in 1873, the National Aquarium, Washington, DC, first opened its doors to visitors in 1885 with a collection of 180 species of fish, reptiles and other aquatic animals.
Transforming experiences reach well beyond the Aquariums’ walls has been the motto of this place. Education teams reach thousands of students each year with activities in schools and in the field; conservation crews and volunteers restore habitats and preserve species around the Chesapeake Bay and around the world; and the National Aquarium venues continued to serve as an economic engine for tourism in the city of Baltimore and as a unique draw in downtown Washington, DC. Through all of its work, the National Aquarium maintains its long-time commitment to serving the surrounding communities.
Shifting so many marine species to a new location is not going to be an easy task but we assume with expert supervision they will carry it out well without stressing the aquatic beings. We just wish the new venue to the animals serve them equally well and continue the good work they have been doing since years.
