Mystic Aquarium

1. Mystic Aquarium Mission

• What is the mission of Mystic Aquarium?
  • Mystic Aquarium prides itself on its mission to get people up close and personal with marine life. Visitors can enjoy interactive exhibits and opportunities to touch aquatic creatures.
• Who is Dr. Robert Ballard?
  • Dr. Robert Ballard is one of the world's most famous ocean explorers, best known for his 1985 discovery of the RMS Titanic wreckage.
• What is the Titanic Exhibit?
  • On the 100^th anniversary of the Titanic, April 12^th, 2012, Ballard opened the Titanic exhibit at the Ocean Exploration Center. The exhibit was co-built by a Disney animator and funded through United Technologies Corporation’s $1 million donation.
• What awards has Mystic Aquarium received?
  • In 2014, Stephen Coan, President of the Sea Research Foundation through Mystic Aquarium, accepted the National Medal for Museum and Library Services, recognizing it as one of the best and most ecologically beneficial aquariums in the United States.
• How has the Titanic exhibit evolved?
  • In 2015, the Titanic exhibit was remodeled into a larger, 7,000 square feet space for a new showcase called Exploration: Wild, following Ballard’s departure from the aquarium.
• What major renovations has the aquarium undergone?
  • The aquarium joined forces with the Ballard Institute for Exploration in 1999 and underwent over $50 million in renovations.
• What makes Mystic Aquarium unique?
  • The aquarium is famous for its beluga whale exhibit, making it the only place in New England to host them. It is also one of only three facilities in the U.S. that houses Steller Sea Lions.
• What is the Ocean Exploration Center?
  • Opened in 2012, the Ocean Exploration Center showcases maps, diagrams, models, and stories of Dr. Ballard’s deep-sea explorations of the Black Sea and the Titanic wreckage. The exhibit even featured a live-feed camera to the Nautilus ship, allowing visitors to interact with scientists and explorers in real time.

2. The Main Gallery at Mystic Aquarium

• What is the Main Gallery at Mystic Aquarium?
  • The Main Gallery is one of Mystic Aquarium’s largest attractions, featuring hundreds of tanks filled with thousands of fish and sharks from around the world.
• What marine life can visitors see in the Main Gallery?
  • The exhibit showcases a variety of fish, sharks, and even some reptiles, including the loggerhead turtle and sea turtles.
• What interactive shark exhibits are available?
  • The Shark Encounters! exhibit allows guests to touch the back of a real-life shark. Visitors can also enjoy the Shark Lagoon, where they can relax and watch sharks in an environment that closely resembles their natural habitat.
• What is the Discovery Room?
  • The Discovery Room is an interactive area located in the Main Gallery where kids can play and explore. They even have the opportunity to pick up and handle a crab.
• What other exhibits are featured in the Main Gallery?
  • Additional attractions include the coral reef exhibit, jellyfish tanks, moray eels, barracuda, and a recreation of Amazonian habitats.

3. Sting Ray Bay at Mystic Aquarium

• What is Sting Ray Bay?
  • Sting Ray Bay is a hands-on exhibit located just outside the Main Gallery. Visitors are encouraged to touch and interact with different species of stingrays in a designated stingray pool.
• Who can participate in Sting Ray Bay?
  • Children and adults alike can lean over the edge and dip their hands into the saltwater pool to feel the smooth backs of the stingrays.
• What is the Foxwoods Marine Theater?
  • The Foxwoods Marine Theater is an interactive part of the Main Gallery where visitors can engage with California Sea Lions. Trainers put on a live demonstration showcasing sea lion behaviors and educate guests on ocean conservation.
• What can guests see in the Foxwoods Marine Theater?
  • Upstairs: Visitors can watch sea lion performances led by professional trainers.
  • Downstairs: A large underwater viewing area allows guests to come face-to-face with sea lions as they swim up to the glass walls.
• Is there seating available at the Foxwoods Marine Theater?
  • Yes, there are many seating areas where guests can relax while still being immersed in the ocean world.
• What is The Roger Tory Peterson Penguin Exhibit?
  • This exhibit is home to 35 African penguins and provides both above-ground and underwater viewing opportunities.
• Why is the African Penguin significant?
  • The African Penguin is currently on the verge of extinction. Mystic Aquarium is a leader in conservation efforts to protect this species.
• What makes this penguin exhibit unique?
  • The top of the exhibit is open-air, allowing guests to see penguins waddling on rocks and sliding across their habitat.
  • Unlike other exhibits, guests can view penguins swimming and diving at eye level without having to go underground.

4. Arctic Coast Exhibit at Mystic Aquarium

• Can guests participate in Penguin Encounters?
  • Yes, visitors can take part in penguin encounters at the Roger Tory Peterson Penguin Exhibit. This program is separate from general admission and lasts one hour.
• What does the Penguin Encounter program include?
  • Guests have the opportunity to talk with trainers, observe them interacting with African penguins, and learn in-depth information about conservation efforts for this endangered species.
• What is the Arctic Coast Exhibit?
  • The Arctic Coast Exhibit is home to the largest outdoor beluga whale habitat in the United States. The exhibit spans one acre and features glacier ice, streams, evergreen trees, and crystal blue water.
• What viewing options are available at the Arctic Coast Exhibit?
  • Above ground: Guests can watch feeding demonstrations and learn from trainers about beluga behaviors and conservation.
  • Below ground: Visitors can view beluga whales through three 20-foot windows, providing an immersive underwater experience.
• What other animals share the Arctic Coast Exhibit?
  • The beluga whales share their habitat with two harbor seals that were rescued by Mystic Aquarium.
• How is Mystic Aquarium involved in beluga whale research?
  • Mystic Aquarium leads research on beluga whales, studying them both at the aquarium and in their natural Arctic habitat. Current research focuses on how environmental changes, including human impact, affect beluga whales' well-being.
• What is Exploration: Wild?
  • Exploration: Wild allows visitors to experience diverse habitats, including the rainforest, the Arctic, the open ocean, and American wetlands, through interactive stations that promote hands-on learning.
• Are there reptiles in Exploration: Wild?
  • Yes, this exhibit features many reptiles. Visitors aged five and older can touch and interact with bearded lizards, snakes, and other reptiles.

5. Pacific Northwest Exhibit at Mystic Aquarium

• What is the Frogs! Exhibit?
  • The Frogs! exhibit features nearly 40 different species of frogs, ranging from common toads to poisonous Amazon amphibians.
• Are there other amphibians in the Frogs! Exhibit?
  • Yes, in addition to frogs, the exhibit also showcases several salamander species from around the world.
• What is the focus of the Frogs! Exhibit?
  • The exhibit highlights that one-third of all frog species are at risk of extinction. It aims to educate guests on the importance of amphibians in ecosystems, conservation efforts, and the life cycle of a frog.
• What is the Pacific Northwest Exhibit?
  • The Pacific Northwest Exhibit is an open-air, outdoor habitat that houses seals and sea lions not located in the Main Gallery. The exhibit is designed to resemble their natural ecosystem.
• Can visitors watch feeding demonstrations in the Pacific Northwest Exhibit?
  • Yes, during feeding times, trainers provide a small demonstration while feeding the seals and sea lions.
• What do the seals and sea lions do in this exhibit?
  • The animals spend most of their time swimming or sunning themselves on the beach.
• What is Marsh Trek?
  • Marsh Trek is a scenic area of Mystic Aquarium where guests can walk along a boardwalk and observe native East Coast species and other North American wildlife.
• What animals can be seen in Marsh Trek?
  • Visitors may spot blue herons soaring overhead, as well as bullfrogs, ducks, turtles, and fish living in the marsh.
• Is there any natural vegetation in Marsh Trek?
  • Yes, the marsh includes natural vegetation such as water lilies, adding to the authenticity of the habitat.

6. Plan Your Mystic Aquarium Visit

• Does Mystic Aquarium have a rescue clinic?
  • Yes, Mystic Aquarium operates an animal rescue clinic that provides care and rehabilitation for stranded and injured marine animals.
• How many rescue calls does the team respond to annually?
  • The rescue team responds to an average of 30 calls per year along 1,000 miles of the Northeastern coastline.
• Can visitors see the rescue clinic in action?
  • Yes, visitors are welcome and encouraged to take a peek into the clinic to witness the efforts involved in rehabilitating seals and sea lions.
• What happens to rescued marine animals?
  • Depending on their condition, rescued animals are either reintroduced into the wild or transferred to other aquariums throughout the United States.
• What educational programs does Mystic Aquarium offer?
  • The aquarium offers several programs throughout the year, including summer camps, preschool through high school programs, and special presentations for homeschooling families.
• What is Sea School?
  • Sea School is the first and only accredited preschool program in the United States that operates inside an aquarium.
• Are there opportunities for overnight stays at the aquarium?
  • Yes, Mystic Aquarium offers overnight stay programs, allowing families and groups to explore the aquarium after hours when the general public has left.
• What programs are available for scouts?
  • The aquarium provides special programs for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, focusing on recycling, conservation efforts, and how to implement them at home.

Address: Mystic Aquarium, 55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, CT 06355, Phone: 860-572-5955, Map

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