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Birch Aquarium

Coordinates:32°51′57″N117°15′2″W/ 32.86583°N 117.25056°W/32.86583; -117.25056
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Birch Aquarium
Map
32°51′57″N117°15′2″W/ 32.86583°N 117.25056°W/32.86583; -117.25056
Date opened1903[1]
LocationScripps Institution of Oceanography,University of California, San Diego,San Diego,California
No.of animals3,000+
No.of species380
Volume of largest tank70,000 U.S. gal (260,000 L)[2]
Annual visitors500,000+[4]
MembershipsAZA[3]
Websiteaquarium.ucsd.edu

Birch Aquariumis apublic aquariuminLa Jolla,a community ofSan Diego, California.It serves as the public outreach center for theScripps Institution of Oceanographyat theUniversity of California, San Diego,with over half a million people visiting the aquarium each year.[5]

The aquarium houses more than 3,000 animals representing over 380 species. The hilltop site provides views ofLa Jolla Shoresand the Pacific Ocean. The aquarium is an accredited member of theAssociation of Zoos and Aquariums(AZA).

History

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The original Scripps marine biological laboratory, 1910

The aquarium was established in 1903 after the Marine Biological Association of San Diego was created to conduct marine research in the local waters of the Pacific Ocean (its name was later changed toScripps Institution of Oceanographyto honor supportersEllen Browning ScrippsandE.W. Scripps,part of the Scripps family of newspaper pioneers). The founders built and maintained the small public aquarium and museum to communicate their discoveries to the world.[1]

The researchers outgrew their modest laboratory in the boathouse of theHotel del Coronadoand moved to a small laboratory atLa Jolla Covein 1905. Several years later, the association purchased 174 acres (70 ha) at La Jolla Shores for $1,000 at a public auction from the city of San Diego. The first permanent building at the new site, theOld Scripps Building,was constructed in 1910. Today it is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[1][6]

In 1915, the first building devoted solely to an aquarium was built on the Scripps campus. The small, wooden structure contained 19 tanks ranging in size from 96 to 228 U.S. gallons (360 to 860 L). The oceanographic museum was located in a nearby building.

The Scripps Aquarium-Museum was completed in 1950. Named to honor former institution directorT. Wayland Vaughan,it opened in 1951 as theThomas Wayland Vaughan Aquarium.The three-story facility served the institution for more than 40 years. A ring of 18 tanks, the largest at 2,000 U.S. gallons (7,600 L), surrounded a central museum of glass exhibit cases displaying Scripps research projects. Within a month of its opening, visitors from all 48 states had signed the guest book.[1]

In 1985, the Stephen and Mary Birch Foundation started a fund-raising effort for a new aquarium by donating $6 million.UC San Diegodonated the land.[1]JCJ Architecture of San Diego was selected as the design architect,[7]and in 1992, the current $14 million aquarium opened its doors, then known as theStephen Birch Aquarium-Museum.Shortly afterwards, its name was changed to Birch Aquarium at Scripps. In March of 1996, the 40 ft (12 m) bronze whale statues "The Legacy" were unveiled in memory of Ted Scripps II.[8]Birch Aquarium celebrated its 20th anniversary in September 2012 by introducing a new visual identity.

There is currently a proposition to expand the aquarium and its facilities throughout 2028.[9]

Exhibits

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At 64,157 square feet (5,960.4 m2), Birch Aquarium is designed around a central lobby with entrances to exhibit areas. Display tanks contain 175,000 U.S. gallons (660,000 L) of seawater.[citation needed]

Hall of Fishes

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70,000-U.S.-gallon (260,000 L) kelp tank

Hall of Fishes features more than 60 tanks of Pacific fishes andinvertebrates.The path along the Hall of Fishes follows the currents of theNorth Pacific Gyre,starting with tanks inspired by the Pacific Northwest, then tanks with organisms from California, followed by tanks with organisms from Mexico and Baja California, ending with tanks inspired by the Indo-Pacific.[10]The largest habitat is a 70,000-U.S.-gallon (260,000 L)kelp foresttank.[2]The tank can be viewed live online through the Kelp Cam.[11]

The Hall of Fishes was closed in September, 2024 for renovations and the development of a new attraction, calledLiving Seas.The new exhibit is planned to open in summer 2025 with digital displays, larger viewing windows, and a new orientation of Pacific fishes in 3 distinct sections: Pacific Northwest, Coastal California, and Tropical Pacific.[12][13]

ElasmoBeach

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Just past the Boundless Energy courtyard, is ElasmoBeach. ElasmoBeach is a sandy bottomed outside tank based on the sea floor of La Jolla.[14]This tank features various sharks and rays, includingleopard sharksandpacific angelsharks.

Tide-Pool Plaza at Birch Aquarium

Tide-Pool Plaza

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Tide-Pool Plaza features three livingtide poolswhere visitors can touch and learn about tide-pool animals with docents. Windows in the habitats provide up-close views ofstarfish,hermit crabs,sea cucumbers,lobsters,and other animals local to San Diego's tide pools.[15]The tide pool overlooksLa Jollaand the Pacific Ocean.

Seadragons & Seahorses

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In this exhibit, Birch Aquarium promotes sea dragon conservation. In this exhibition you’ll find a multitude of fishes in the seadragon family such asseahorses,pipefish,sea dragons,etc. Birch Aquarium has focused on this species’ rehabilitation because of the impacts that climate change and poaching have on the ocean.[16]

The exhibit features more than a dozenseahorsespecies and their relatives, a special seahorse nursery, and hands-on activities for all ages about seahorse biology. Birch Aquarium is a world leader inseahorse propagation,reducing the need for other zoos and aquariums to collect from the wild.[17]

In March of 2023, The Birch Aquarium's seadragon conservation program successfully bred 70weedy seadragons.[18][19]The aquarium had previously bred two seadragons in 2020, however, the event in 2023 was the first occurrence inside an exhibit.

Oddities: Hidden Heroes of the Scripps Collections

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This unique place in the aquarium is inspired by a comic-book designed exhibit that displays the odd qualities of the ocean and its species. In collaboration with the Scripps Oceanographic Collections, they uncover the superpowers of aquatic creatures, ranging from armor to supersight to electricity and the inspiration it's offered to cinema, medicine, engineering, and more.[20]

Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins

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The Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins exhibit is named after the long-time supporters, Beyster Family, who generously gifted $1 million to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Birch Aquarium. This exhibit features little blue penguins that live in an 18,000 gallon penguin lagoon that imitates the coast of Australia and New Zealand where the little blues live. It also includes a small amphitheater that allows guests to observe the penguins, as well as a “discovery cove” for children to get a closer look at these penguins.[21][22]

Boundless Energy

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This is an outdoor playground that celebrates the innovative ways we can use natural forces to power our lives. Interactive stations explore ways to harnessrenewable energyfrom the sun, the wind, and ocean motion. Visitors can expend their own "boundless energy" at a play area for kids in which stationary bikes, hand cranks, and a seesaw powers a whimsical water sculpture.[23]

Awards and recognition

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  • Summer 2014San Diegans vote Birch Aquarium at Scripps the Best Museum in San Diego in the annual A-List poll for the fourth year in a row.[24]
  • Summer 2013San Diegans vote Birch Aquarium at Scripps the Best Museum in San Diego in the annual A-List poll for the third year in a row.[24]
  • Summer 2012San Diegans vote Birch Aquarium at Scripps the Best Museum in San Diego in the annual A-List poll for the second year in a row.[24]
  • Fall 2011San Diegans vote Birch Aquarium at Scripps the Best Museum in San Diego in the annual 10News.com A-List poll.[25]The aquarium was voted the #2 museum in 2008,[26]2009,[27]and 2010.[28]
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References

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  1. ^abcde"History".ucsd.edu.University of California at San Diego. Archived fromthe originalon June 5, 2012.RetrievedMay 20,2012.
  2. ^ab"Hall of Fishes".ucsd.edu.Birch Aquarium at Scripps. Archived fromthe originalon April 20, 2012.RetrievedMay 20,2012.
  3. ^ "Currently Accredited Zoos and Aquariums".aza.org.AZA.Retrieved19 February2011.
  4. ^Schwab, Dave."Birch Aquarium at Scripps celebrates 30 years on the hill".SDNEWS.
  5. ^"About Us".ucsd.edu.University of California at San Diego. Archived fromthe originalon August 29, 2012.RetrievedMay 20,2012.
  6. ^"Old Scripps Building".National Historic Landmark summary listing.National Park Service.Retrieved2008-07-10.
  7. ^"About".JCJ Architecture.Retrieved28 February2022.
  8. ^Shor, Elizabeth; Day, Deborah; Hardy, Kevin; Dalton, Dora (2003). "Scripps Time Line".Oceanography.16(3): 109–119.doi:10.5670/oceanog.2003.41.
  9. ^"Current Projects".plandesignbuild.ucsd.edu.Retrieved2023-09-05.
  10. ^Birch Aquarium Exhibits.UCSD. 2017.
  11. ^"Kelp Cam — Live!".ucsd.edu.Birch Aquarium at Scripps. Archived fromthe originalon May 21, 2012.RetrievedMay 20,2012.
  12. ^Tucker, Jess (6 September 2024)."From Hall of Fishes to Living Seas: Birch Aquarium's Next Chapter".www.msn.com.Microsoft.Retrieved30 September2024.
  13. ^Volavka, Joanna (22 August 2024)."Birch Aquarium Announces Living Seas Transformation".today.ucsd.edu.Regents of the University of California.Retrieved30 September2024.
  14. ^"ElasmoBeach".Birch Aquarium at Scripps.UCSD.Retrieved30 December2017.
  15. ^"Tide Pool Display".ucsd.edu.Birch Aquarium at Scripps. Archived fromthe originalon April 20, 2012.RetrievedMay 20,2012.
  16. ^"Seadragons & Seahorses".Birch Aquarium at Scripps.Retrieved2022-10-24.
  17. ^"There's Something About Seahorses".ucsd.edu.Birch Aquarium at Scripps. Archived fromthe originalon May 24, 2012.RetrievedMay 20,2012.
  18. ^"Birch Aquarium announces pregnant seadragon, an in-captivity rarity".KPBS Public Media.2023-01-10.Retrieved2024-06-20.
  19. ^Segura, Daniella; Observer, The Charlotte."Year-old seadragons make debut at California aquarium".phys.org.Retrieved2024-06-20.
  20. ^Walsh, Nikki (2019-05-19)."Birch Aquarium's New Must-See Seadragons & Seahorses Exhibit".Tinybeans.Retrieved2022-10-24.
  21. ^"Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins".Birch Aquarium at Scripps.Retrieved2022-10-24.
  22. ^Coast News wire services (2022-07-12)."The Coast News Group".The Coast News Group.Retrieved2022-10-24.
  23. ^"Boundless Energy".ucsd.edu.Birch Aquarium at Scripps. Archived fromthe originalon May 17, 2012.RetrievedMay 20,2012.
  24. ^abc"All Winners of the 2012 San Diego A-List".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-09-02.Retrieved2012-09-05.
  25. ^"2011 10News.com A-List poll".cityvoter.com.KGTV.RetrievedMay 20,2012.
  26. ^"2008 10News.com A-List poll".cityvoter.com.KGTV.RetrievedMay 20,2012.
  27. ^"2009 10News.com A-List poll".cityvoter.com.KGTV.RetrievedMay 20,2012.
  28. ^"2010 10News.com A-List poll".cityvoter.com.KGTV.RetrievedMay 20,2012.
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