Medical care and rehabilitation for the Stranding Response team’s recent sea turtle patients have been a huge undertaking...literally! Named after gems, loggerhead sea turtles Pearl, Alexandrite, and Diamond were admitted to the Darden Marine Animal Conservation Center (DMACC) last year for rehab. …
Five o’clock strikes, and the last daytime guests trail out of the Aquarium, their cars streaming out of the parking lots. Instead of closing for the day, the Aquarium prepares for a fun evening event. Inside the North Building, staff begin tidying up the exhibit galleries, setting up tables full …
This year, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center celebrates its 40th anniversary and the incredible journey it has undergone since opening on June 14, 1986. Beginning as a small museum focused on teaching the public about local ecosystems, the facility has grown from one public building…
The Virginia Aquarium’s animal ambassadors are animals who generally live behind the scenes but are included in education programs as “ambassadors” who represent their species, allowing educators to share these animals’ stories and highlight the vital role each species plays in the natural world. G…
In 2025 alone, The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center received over 28,000 pounds of fish, shellfish, and other products to feed both Aquarium animals as well as sea turtles in rehabilitation through the Stranding Response Program. These products are provided by Sam Rust Seafood, Inc., w…
Our photographers had an incredible year capturing photos of our animals, exhibits, and events. Explore our favorite shots of 2025!
This past summer, the Virginia Aquarium opened the new Bob & Leslie Fort Animal Ambassador Center (AAC). This state-of-the-art facility is now home to our animal ambassadors, a group of mostly non-exhibit animals used in our education programs. At 4,800 square feet, the new AAC is nearly twice …
As part of our mission to inspire a more sustainable future, the Virginia Aquarium's School & Youth Education team offers a variety of science education programs for local students in preschool, elementary, middle, and high school. These programs are available for public and private schools, da…
