National Aquarium - Baltimore, MD
General Info
Address: 501 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410)576-3800
Hours: Mon-Thurs 9am-6pm, Fri-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 9am-5pm (hour varies, check website)
Admission: Adult $49, Youth $39.95
Parking: Multiple garages in the area. Check website for address. Bring parking ticket to aquarium to validate.
Website: https://aqua.org/
Located in the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, the National Aquarium, formerly known as the Baltimore Aquarium, is always one of my favorite aquariums. Since I was a kid, every time I visited Baltimore usually had at least one visit here. Opened in 1981, the aquarium has over 2 million gallons of water and more than 750 species of creatures.
Level One View of Blacktip Reef
What makes this aquarium unique to me is that the layout is more vertical than a typical aquarium. Throughout your visit, you make your way up through the aquarium and then eventually wind your way back down. They also designed it where you get a view you don’t normally get at other aquariums: you actually view the main exhibits from above the surface. I feel like its an interesting way to look at the creatures.
There are 5 Levels exhibit from the Blacktip Reef to Maryland Mountains to Sea all the way the Amazon and Tropical Rain Forest. They have a good mix of exhibits that keeps it from being boring from seeing the same thing over and over again. After going through the main floor, you can make your way to the Pier 4 Pavilion, where they also house some Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins as well as the Jellies Invasion exhibit. The dolphins were there since they used to do shows, but now are there for educational purposes. There are plans to build a sanctuary and eventually relocate the dolphins to that sanctuary.
5 Horseshoe Crab pile up. Talking to the volunteer, the crabs grab onto each other to move to save energy but hit a snail and flipped over. Eventually they flipped back.
I spent a good 2 hours there on a Saturday morning. However, be ready for a big crowd. I got there 10 minutes before open and there was already a large line to get in. It took roughly 20 minutes to get into the Aquarium as they take souvenir pictures at the entrance of the museum. Like all aquariums, it is a popular location for parents and kids so be ready for crowds at each exhibit. I was still be able to enjoy each exhibit and read the displays, but just be aware. Tip: To have less crowds at the main exhibit go the backward way and you usually have a nice unobstructed view from the railing.
If you are in Baltimore with kids or just a marine biology enthusiast, I highly recommend adding the National Aquarium as a stop. From there, you can explore the other many areas in the Inner Harbor.
