Maritime Aquarium 30th Anniversary Celebration

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is throwing a party on Saturday, July 21 to celebrate its 30 years of living exhibits, marine science and environmental education in support of Long Island Sound.

Besides a full day of bonus fun on July 21, The Maritime Aquarium is offering “1988 throwback pricing” July 21-22 for deeply discounted admission all weekend.

The popular family attraction opened on July 16, 1988, as The Maritime Center at Norwalk. (The name was changed to The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk in July 1996.) It was created as a not-for- profit institution both to inspire stewardship for Long Island Sound and to spur a revitalization of the South Norwalk neighborhood.

Today, if you go by traveler ratings on TripAdvisor.com, The Maritime Aquarium is the No. 1 aquarium in New England. It has the prestigious accreditation of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the body that sets the top standards for animal care and visitor safety at zoos and aquariums. Some 80,000 students in the tri-state area connect with the Aquarium and its educational programs each year. And annual attendance of nearly 500,000 means the Aquarium has an annual economic impact of $25 million on the City of Norwalk and $42 million on the State of Connecticut through visitor spending and execution of its $12.3 million budget.

“We believe the Aquarium has been pivotal in the positive changes that have occurred with the health of Long Island Sound and in the vitality of South Norwalk over the last three decades,” said Aquarium spokesman Dave Sigworth. “Just as the Sound is a dynamic environment with new challenges, the Aquarium will remain fresh and dynamic in the exhibits we display and in the ways we present environmental education.”

As an icon for this milestone year, the Aquarium has adopted the traditional gift for a 30th anniversary: the pearl – only fitting for an aquarium in a community known for its oystering history. Even the seal in the Aquarium logo is sporting a special pearl necklace.

For the celebration on July 21, guests can enjoy fun bonus activities staggered throughout the day, including a disc jockey, strolling entertainers, and a photo booth with special backdrops. There will be cake and cupcakes, of course, as well as dignitaries with proclamations.

In addition, look for favorite IMAX movies from the past to be included in the film schedule on July 21. (One IMAX movie is included with Aquarium admission.) Plus, in a nod to the boat-building shop that operated in the Aquarium from 1988-2007, former boatwright Chris Lawler will be on hand with a boat under construction, explaining the tools and steps for building a wooden boat.

All of the celebratory extras will be free with Aquarium admission, which is rolled back to the prices on July 16, 1988: just $9.50 for adults and seniors, and $5.50 for children 3-12. Watch the Aquarium’s website for the full celebration schedule on July 21 visit www.maritimeaquarium.org.