The US NATIONAL AQUARIUM (check it out!)

[Mabu]

I was in Washington D.C. last month and decided to visit the National Aquarium. I thought I might share pictures from this wonderous place with everyone here.... take a look:
http://fishworld.com/nataq.html

The US National Aquarium - your tax dollars at work!

 

[SPC]

That is SAD! Maybe we need to contact Dateline.
Steve

 

[Carpentersreef]

That is PATHETIC

Mitch

 

[ianstein]

I stopped by there a few years ago. Looks like they actually cleaned it up a bit, which is not really saying alot.

 

[ShagMan]

Hahahaha, that's horrible! Good writeup/pics, thanks

*jots that on his list of places NOT to go*

 

[Baalz]

Wouldnt it be nice if something could be done about the Reef of Horrors?

 

[ACROPHORIA1]

SERIOUSLY NOW FOLKS,THATS PLAIN DISGUSTING,SOMEONE SHOULD CALL DATELINE FOR SURE
ITS SAD TO SEE, HOW PATHETIC,I THINK IM GOING TO BE SICK,SOMEONE REALLY SHOULD DO SOMETHING,ESP. FOR THOSE POOR SHARKS THAT CANT EVEN SWIM AROUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Laurie]

Amazing! You should have saved your admission fee, travelled 30 miles north and visited the REAL National Aquarium in Baltimore. It is splendid! I comes complete with a tropical rain forest, an outdoor seal pool, a dolphin show, an Atlantic reef with a spiraling walkway where you can stroll along with a hammerhead shark swimming beside you. There are all kinds of exotic fish and critters as well as more common species we keep in our own tanks. They also have a very highly publicized and impressive seahorse exhibit. They are breeding the ponies and have many rare and beautiful specimens.

Sorry you had such a bad experience in DC. If you ever get out this way again, make time for Baltimore's National Aquarium. You won't be disappointed.

 

[ACROPHORIA1]

that sounds a whole lot better!!!!!!

 

[Baalz]

http://www.nationalaquarium.com/

 

[ReefMon]

Sad but true, The national Aquarium in DC is nothing less than a disgrace. FWIK, it used to be run by the GSA in the normal DC way, unqualified staff, no interest other than a paycheck and so on, the aquarium was taken over by a private contractor a couple of years ago hoping to improve it, but with no new funding and no corporate sponsors they are just barely able to keep it open.

But NOAA has stepped in and is planning some major new exhibits, maybe it will be the beginning of more corporate or agency involvement , only time will tell.

"Long time supporter of the National Aquarium, NOAA or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is working on a new exhibit that will be installed in the Aquarium before the end of the year. This exciting new exhibit, currently under construction in the space that once held the Aquarium Theater, will feature coral reefs and ocean exploration."

Glenn R

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
Thanx for the link, Baalz. If I live in DC area, or member of aquarium society in DC, I would try to fill out the volunteer form and try to see if they want me to do something about it. FYI, it is not funded by our tax dollar.

http://www.nationalaquarium.com/imindex.html
"Eventually resulting from government cutbacks during the Ronald Reagan Administration, the aquarium lost its government funding in 1982 and had plans to close. In an effort to save the facility, the National Aquarium Society was founded and still operates the facility today."

 

[Mabu]

Hmm, interesting. I can't believe it isn't funded at some part by the government - if they're not paying rent then that's being subsidized...

It seems there are no less than 6-8 people working on this not including volunteers, or maybe they're all volunteers but I can't believe that they can't do something better than this.

I really did want to see the Baltimore Aquarium when I was up there but didn't have time - hopefully next time. The people at the Smithsonian definitely tried to talk me out of visiting the National Aquarium; now I understand why.