National Historic Landmark

Shedd, John G., Aquarium

Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Listed
February 27, 1987
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
87000820

About this property

Shedd Aquarium (formally the John G. Shedd Aquarium) is a public aquarium in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is one of the oldest continually operating non-governmental aquariums in the U.S. Opened on May 30, 1930, the 5 million US gal (19,000,000 L; 4,200,000 imp gal) aquarium holds about 32,000 animals. It is the fourth largest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere (after L'Oceanogràfic, the Georgia Aquarium and The Seas at Epcot) and the 11th-largest aquarium in the world. The Shedd Aquarium is a highly ranked world aquarium and at one time was the largest indoor facility in the world. It is the first inland aquarium with a permanent saltwater fish collection. The aquarium is located along Lake Michigan in the city's Museum Campus, which also includes other highly ranked institutions such as Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum of Natural History. In 2015, the Shedd Aquarium had 2.02 million visitors. It was the most visited aquarium in the Western Hemisphere in 2005, and in 2007, became the most visited cultural institution in Chicago. The aquarium contains 1,500 species, including fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians, and insects. The aquarium received awards for "best exhibit" from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) for Seahorse Symphony in 1999, Amazon Rising in 2001, and Wild Reef in 2004. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

Location

1200 S. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
41.86768, -87.61397

Categories

ENTERTAINMENT/RECREATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

U-505 (IX C U-Boat)
Industrial
0.1 mi
Field Museum of Natural History
Industrial
0.2 mi
Soldier Field
Industrial
0.4 mi
YMCA Hotel
Industrial
0.4 mi
Adler Planetarium
Industrial
0.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Fort Dearborn Massacre
1812Early Republic
1.1 mi
Fort Dearborn Massacre August 15 1812
1812Early Republic
1.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Shedd, John G., Aquarium listed on the National Register?

Shedd, John G., Aquarium was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 27, 1987.

What type of historic resource is Shedd, John G., Aquarium?

Shedd, John G., Aquarium is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Shedd, John G., Aquarium a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Shedd, John G., Aquarium has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Shedd, John G., Aquarium?

The period of significance for Shedd, John G., Aquarium is recorded as the industrial era.

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