Tennessee Aquarium at a Glance
The Chattanooga skyline features six magnificent
peaks that top the Tennessee Aquarium's River Journey and Ocean
Journey buildings. River Journey is the original Aquarium building
and features stunning freshwater creatures and habitats from
the Southeast and from around the world. Visitors can explore
two living forests under glass and get face to face with giant
catfish, prehistoric sturgeon and American alligators.
Ocean
Journey takes visitors beneath the waves where 10-foot sharks,
fierce barracuda and graceful stingrays glide through amazing
coral formations. Other galleries showcase cuttlefish, squid,
crabs and jellyfish. An indoor rainforest showcases the fluttering
jewels of nature - butterflies.
Building
Sizes |
River
Journey |
Ocean
Journey |
| 130,000
square feet |
60,000
square feet |
| The
height of a 12-story building |
The
height of a 10-story building |
| Holds
a total of 400,000 gallons of water |
Holds
a total of 700,000 gallons of water |
| |
|
Building
Costs |
River
Journey |
Ocean
Journey |
| $45
million from individuals, corporations, foundations and
other organizations. |
$30
million - Funded by a $10 million Aquarium bond issue and
$20 million raised through combined efforts with the 21st
Century Waterfront fundraising campaign. |
| |
|
Architects
and Exhibit Designers: |
River
Journey - Original Building |
Ocean
Journey - Expansion |
Cambridge
Seven Associates, Inc.,
Cambridge, MA
Peter Chermayeff, Principal in Charge
Peter Chermayeff, Architect of Record
|
Chermayeff,
Sollogub and Poole Inc.,
Boston, MA
Peter Chermayeff, Design Principal
Peter Sollogub, Principal in Charge
Bobby C. Poole, Architect of Record |
|
Grand
opening |
| River
Journey – May 1, 1992 |
Ocean
Journey – April 29, 2005 |
| |
|
| Location:
Chattanooga, Tennessee — The Tennessee Aquarium
is located in Ross's Landing Park and Plaza on the banks
of the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga. |
| |
|
| Owner:
Private, non-profit corporation
Operator:
Tennessee Aquarium Corporation
President:
Charles L. Arant
Attendance:
Since opening, the Aquarium has drawn, on average, a million
visitors each year. |
Exhibit
Areas |
River
Journey —
Appalachian Cove Forest
Tennessee River Gallery
Discovery Hall
Mississippi Delta
Rivers of the World
Seahorses (special exhibition gallery) |
Ocean
Journey –
Tropical Cove (Forest Pool, Macaw Glade)
Shark Island
Butterfly Garden
Penguins' Rock
Secret Reef
Boneless Beauties
Undersea Cavern |
| |
|
| Specimens:
The Tennessee Aquarium showcases a richly diverse collection
of thousands of living specimens throughout both buildings.
Beautiful examples of both fresh and saltwater fish – including
big, toothy sharks and seahorses, free-flying native
songbirds, captivating cold-climate penguins, tropical
Hyacinth macaws, playful river otters, 70 species of
turtles, snakes, alligators, crocodiles, frogs, toads,
salamanders, newts and amazing invertebrates encompassing
jellyfish, crabs, octopus, nautilus, cuttlefish and crayfish. |
| Educational
Facilities: Hands-on and interactive exhibits,
200-seat auditorium, fully equipped classroom, wet lab,
two computer labs and an outreach van.
Other
properties: Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D® Theater
and Environmental Learning Lab
Construction:
Turner Universal, Nashville, Tenn. |
| Engineering |
River
Journey
John L. Altieri Consulting, Norwalk, Conn.
Weidlinger Associates, New York |
Ocean
Journey
March Adams and Associates, Inc., Chattanooga, Tenn. |
| |
Exhibit
Designers/Fabricators |
River
Journey
Lyons/Zaremba, Inc., Boston, Mass.
The Larson Company, Tucson, Ariz. |
Ocean
Journey
Adirondack Scenic, New York |
Economic
impact:
- The Tennessee
Aquarium is credited with igniting the “Renaissance
on the River,” and the revitalization of downtown Chattanooga.
No single project has played a greater role in revitalizing
downtown.
- With more than $2
billion in new investment in the downtown area since 1990,
Chattanooga is fast becoming a model for all that a mid-sized
downtown can be.
- More than 8 million people visit Chattanooga each year.
- Tourism is a $690 million industry in Chattanooga and Hamilton
County.
- Tourism and hospitality account for 7,300 Chattanooga and
Hamilton County jobs with an annual payroll of over $150 million.
- Downtown
employment rose 38 percent from 1992 to 2002 – (58
percent of that increase took place between 1997 and 2002.)
#
# #
The
Tennessee Aquarium inspires wonder and appreciation for
the natural world. Admission is $19.95 per adult and $12.95
per child, ages 3-12. Each ticket purchased helps support
Aquarium conservation programs. The IMAX® 3D
Theater is next door to the Aquarium. Ticket prices are $7.95
per adult and $5.50 per child. Aquarium/IMAX combo tickets
are $24.95 for adults and $16.95 for children. Advance tickets
may be purchased online at www.tnaqua.org or by phone at
1-800-262-0695. The Aquarium, located on the banks of the
Tennessee River in Chattanooga, is a non-profit organization.
Open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Aquarium
and IMAX are accessible to people with disabilities. Members
enjoy unlimited visits and other benefits. Call 267-FISH
to join.
ONLINE press kits & downloadable images: http://www.tnaqua.org/Newsroom/Newsroom.asp
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