About the Aquarium

Founded in June 1998, the Aquarium of the Pacific is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The Aquarium’s mission is to instill a sense of wonder, respect, and stewardship for the Pacific Ocean, its inhabitants, and ecosystems. Our vision is to foster an inclusive community that works together to create our sustainable future. The Aquarium of the Pacific is Southern California’s largest aquarium. It displays about 12,000 animals and more than 100 exhibits that celebrate the planet’s largest and most diverse body of water, the Pacific Ocean. Its galleries represent the frigid waters of the Northern Pacific, the temperate Southern California/Baja region, and the warm coral reefs and lagoons of the Tropical Pacific.

Each year approximately 1.6 million people visit the Aquarium, making it consistently one of the leading attractions in the Los Angeles region. Beyond its world-class animal exhibits, the Aquarium offers educational programs for people of all ages from hands-on activities for students and families to lectures by leading scientists. Through these programs both on and offsite, the Aquarium provides opportunities to connect to nature, delve deeper into ocean science, and learn about conservation. In addition to its public programs and exhibits, the Aquarium is involved in numerous conservation efforts, including breeding and rehabilitating endangered species, community science, scientific diving, and more.

Throughout the year, the Aquarium features cultural and community festivals to welcome and engage diverse communities, and its annual CELP Scholar Program supports students studying marine sciences. Its First Wednesday speaker series offers opportunities to learn about ocean and environmental issues from the scientists and other experts.

In 2019 the Aquarium opened its first major expansion since its founding, the new Pacific Visions wing. Pacific Visions is a 29,000-square-foot, two-story, sustainable structure. This new building houses a state-of-the-art immersive theater, an art gallery, and a culmination gallery with interactives, game tables, and live animal exhibits. Through Pacific Visions, visitors can explore the most pressing environmental issues of our time and alternative pathways to designing a more sustainable future.

The Aquarium of the Pacific was the first among museums, zoos, and aquariums in the nation to register its greenhouse gases and has won numerous awards for its sustainable practices. The Premier Watershed Classroom was the first building in Long Beach to earn LEED Platinum certification. The new Pacific Visions wing earned Two Green Globes certification from the Green Globes® building rating system for demonstrating leadership in best practices regarding environmental efficiency.

Located on a six-acre site on Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach, California, the Aquarium encompasses 360,000 square feet. The Aquarium has approximately 1,000 volunteers and over 350 employees. The Aquarium has approximately 35,000 membership households and an annual operating budget of about $60 million.