Aquarium of the Pacific

The Aquarium of the Pacific celebrates our planet’s largest and most diverse body of water, the Pacific Ocean.  A non-profit organization, with close to 1000 volunteers, 330 employees and 1.5 million visitors a year, the Aquarium of the Pacific’s mission is to “instill a sense of wonder, respect and stewardship for the Pacific Ocean, its inhabitants and ecosystems” through an array of education programs designed for all ages.  Located on a five acre site on Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach, California, the Aquarium encompasses 263,000 square feet and features 19 major habitats and 32 focus exhibits. More than 11,000 ocean animals, representing 500 species, reside in the Aquarium. The grand opening of the Aquarium was on June 20, 1998 with a total initial investment of $117 million. Today, the Aquarium has over 35,000 membership households and an annual operating budget of approximately $29 million.