Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans

Welcome to the enchanting world of the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, where the magic of the underwater kingdom comes to life in the heart of New Orleans. This aquarium is not just a place to see exotic fish and marine animals, but a portal to another world, where each step uncovers new wonders of nature.

Dive into this captivating tour with us, exploring not only the living inhabitants of the aquarium but also learning about the importance of preserving the marine environment.

The Marine World in New Orleans

Near the Mississippi River stands the extraordinary Aquarium of the Americas—one of the best museums of its kind in America. Here, a visitor will find 15,000 marine inhabitants representing 600 species. The oceanarium is managed by the Audubon Nature Institute, which also oversees the zoo, butterfly garden, and insectarium. The building is located on the banks of the Mississippi River, at the edge of the French Quarter.

The aquarium is home to fish and marine creatures of all kinds, where visitors can get up close with some of the ocean's most enchanting creatures. For example, the 30-foot-long Caribbean reef tunnel allows visitors to see the marine life of the Caribbean Sea, usually only seen by divers. And the new seahorse gallery showcases these beautiful creatures gracefully swimming among the algae in their home and gliding through the water.

Visitors will also find rare and endangered species. For example, the white alligator—only 18 of these animals were found in the Louisiana swamp. Their steel blue eyes and white skin are mesmerizing. Among the Cajuns, seeing a white alligator is considered lucky!

Want to pet a shark? Here's your chance. The shark pool allows visitors to touch a small shark and talk to a naturalist. Want to be entertained by sea otters, rare neon frogs, or playful penguins? They're all here! If you're interested in anacondas, poisonous frogs, and exotic birds, visit the Amazon Rainforest exhibit.

History of the Audubon Aquarium

The concept for the facility was developed in 1984 when the Audubon Nature Institute began exploring the idea of creating an aquarium dedicated to the "aquatic environment of the Southern, Central, and Northern Americas and the adjacent seas, oceans, and rivers." That same year, institute staff took a fact-finding trip to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. A press release later announced the Institute's intention to create "a new aquarium and Riverfront park, transforming the look of the New Orleans riverfront, boosting civic pride, and offering a thrilling view of the underwater wonders of the Western Hemisphere."

In October 1989, Woldenberg Riverfront Park was opened to the public, and 11 months later on the day the aquarium opened, it saw 13,623 visitors, breaking all records. By the early days of 1991, just six months after opening, the aquarium had reached its annual attendance goal — 868,000 visitors.

This was followed by:

• the opening of the Entergy IMAX theater in 1995;
• the arrival in 1999 of Buck and Emma — two abandoned sea otter pups that are still alive;
• the opening of the Seahorse Gallery in 2000 in conjunction with the institution's 10th anniversary.

All of these helped the aquarium grow over the last two decades.

Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

The success of the aquarium provided a foundation for the growth of leisure trips to New Orleans. In its first year of operation, the aquarium brought the city $171 million, and now this number has doubled.

In 2005, the aquarium faced its first real tragedy — Hurricane Katrina. The facility was evacuated as soon as tons of water poured into the city. The fuel line feeding the aquarium's generator broke, and since there was no staff there, no one repaired the life support system, resulting in the loss of most of the wildlife collection.

Following the levee breach, with support and resources from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, staff evacuated the surviving animals: penguins, sea otters, giant turtles, seahorses, sea dragons, and various birds and fish. They were taken to other institutions across the country. Over the next nine months, staff worked to replenish the aquarium's population.

The museum reopened on Memorial Day in 2006.