The National Aquarium, first founded as a public aquarium in 1878, will close its Washington D.C. location on Sept. 30. The aquarium has spent the last 81 years in the same location but had to close due to renovation and construction on the Herbert C. Hoover Department of Commerce building.
The 2,500 animals, including poison dart frogs, electric eels and alligators, that called the National Aquarium home will be moved to other aquariums and accredited institutions, including the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Funding was not a concern for the aquarium but had to vacate its longtime home for “necessary” renovations on the Herbert C. Hoover Building which also houses the Department of Commerce as well as the White House Visitor Center.
The closing of the National Aquarium’s Washington D.C. location was announced in May and the aquarium has set up a feasibility study and states that it wants to continue operating in the area. Tamika Langley Tremaglio, National Aquarium, Washington, DC, Board Chair, said in a statement, “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.”
Studio Gang Architects (SGA) and IMPACTS Research & Development will be leading the feasibility study. According to the National Aquarium the study, named BLUEprint, will, “Include research, engagement, design and analysis to determine the National Aquarium’s best use of resources in the nation’s capital, identifying key partners, defining the optimal facilities and program and delineating the range of costs.”
While the National Aquarium will close its doors to the public on Sept. 30 it will have until March 2014 to relocate all the animals. The closing of the Washington D.C. location will not affect operations of the National Aquarium’s Baltimore location.
National Aquarium Will Close Its Doors In Washington D.C. After 125 Years
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