
Exhibits


Amazing Amazon
In the Amazing Amazon exhibit you will come face to face with piranha, arowana, an electric eel, jungle frogs and more!Key Exhibit Features: Dark Areas
Location: 1st Floor

Aquatic Invaders
You’ve heard about them in the news, now get a closer look at lamprey, lionfish, zebra mussels, and other invasive species in the Aquatic Invaders exhibit. Uncover ways our community – and you – can stop the spread of invasive species. Explore how these misplaced fish, plants, and invertebrates compete with native species, hitch rides… View More
Baptism River
Steep volcanic rocks make a cold, fast-moving aquatic habitat in this unique North Shore river. Based on the real life Baptism River an hour north of Duluth and flowing through Tettegouche State Park, this exhibit is home to a variety of trout species. Exhibit Gallery
Critter Corner
Critter Corner showcases the depth and breadth of diversity of the animal kingdom, from turtles to moon jellies! Resident reptiles living in this exhibit make frequent appearances during hands-on interpretive programs, educational outreach programs, and birthday parties. This exhibit also features a moon jelly touchpool! Want to familiarize yourself with the touchpool experience before your… View MoreKey Exhibit Features: Animal Contact Staffed Tactile Experience Wet
Location: 2nd Floor

Explorers' Cove
Find the perfect souvenir, keepsake or memento from your visit to Great Lakes Aquarium. From t-shirts and sweatshirts for adults and children to unique aquatic and woodland stuffed animals to home decor with a Northwoods touch, we’ve got you covered. We also offer snacks and beverages for hungry visitors and toys and games to keep… View More
fine art sample
This rotating gallery showcases local and regional artists whose work captures the spirit of the Lake Superior region. Interested in showing your work? Apply now. What’s next for the gallery? Check the schedule for the next upcoming opening reception! Northern Spirits Paintings by Amber BurnsSeptember 9 to January 10, 2023Opening Reception: Wednesday, June 8 from… View More
Freshwater Forest
Freshwater Forest invites explorers of all ages to discover and enjoy YOUR National Forests. Discover connections between human history, aquatic habitat, and forest management within the Superior and Chippewa National Forests. This exhibit features the Aquarium’s iconic treehouse, slide, and fishing boat playspace. Looking for ways to get out and explore? Visit Discover the Forest… View MoreKey Exhibit Features: Loud Seating Space for Movement Tactile Experience
Location: 2nd Floor

Global Connections
Have you ever stopped to think about how the Great Lakes and other local lakes and streams are linked to the world’s oceans? Global water resources are connected in one magnificent system, and the actions we take here in the Northland have a ripple effect.We are part of a global environment, and water quality issues… View MoreLocation: 1st Floor

H2O: Watersheds at Work
Now open! Come explore the physical properties of water, methods to keep it clean, the ways water moves through a community, and how it connects us to the world. The new water table, unveiled in 2021, celebrates everyone’s favorite features of the original water table and adds a variety of new and engaging hands-on opportunities… View MoreKey Exhibit Features: Loud Seating Space for Movement Tactile Experience Wet
Location: 1st Floor

Isle Royale
The 85,000-gallon Isle Royale exhibit contains fish found in the Great Lakes. This two-story exhibit is divided into three sections: The largest of the habitats features native Lake Superior fish that could be found swimming in colder, deeper waters such as trout, lake sturgeon, and burbot. Just around the corner is a warmer habitat where… View MoreKey Exhibit Features: Assistive Listening System Seating

Merrill Lynch Fine Arts Gallery
This rotating gallery showcases local and regional artists whose work captures the spirit of the Lake Superior region. Interested in showing your work? Apply now. What’s next for the gallery? Check the schedule for the next upcoming opening reception! We Are WaterSeptember 13, 2023 to January 8, 2024Multimedia Paintings by Michelle Wegler and Cheryl LeClair… View MoreLocation: 1st Floor

Origins
Explore the geologic, natural, and cultural history of the Lake Superior region. Get nose to nose with an American alligator, admire the diversity of corals and anemones, and ponder the fossil record. Fossil casts of prehistoric predators, ancient mollusks, and fish with lungs will take you on an adventure through time. Watch molten rock pour… View MoreKey Exhibit Features: Animal Contact Staffed Tactile Experience Wet
Location: 2nd Floor

Otter Cove
Otter Cove is modeled after the real life Otter Cove on the eastern shore of Lake Superior in Canada’s Pukaskwa Provincial Park. Here at the Aquarium, Otter Cove is home to two North American river otters named Agate and Ore. During your visit, you may see these playful otters belly flopping off the rocks, swimming,… View MoreKey Exhibit Features: Assistive Listening System Loud Seating Space for Movement
Location: 1st Floor

Raptor Ridge
Take in the vista from this indoor/outdoor exhibit space, which houses Bogey the bald eagle and Horus the turkey vulture. Both birds were determined to be unreleasable – unable to thrive without human assistance (due to injuries or illnesses sustained in the wild). Here at the Aquarium, check out the ever-changing enrichment that keeps their… View MoreKey Exhibit Features: Audio Description Available
Location: 2nd Floor

Shipwrecks Alive!
Shipwrecks Alive! dives deeper into the fascinating world of sunken ships and the diverse wildlife they attract and sustain. This gallery focuses on three unique examples of shipwrecks, showcasing underwater habitat in three very different parts of the world: Lake Superior, the South Pacific, and the Mediterranean Sea. Exhibit Gallery Acknowledgements This project was funded in… View MoreKey Exhibit Features: Audio Description Available Braille Available Dark Areas Seating Tactile Experience
Location: 1st Floor

St. Louis River
The St. Louis River is the largest river flowing into Lake Superior. Home to sturgeon, northern pike, bass, and a variety of other fish species, it is a popular angling location. Clay banks, forest habitat, and wetlands line the river and provide shelter for a variety of birds and terrestrial animals. At Great Lakes Aquarium,… View MoreLocation: 2nd Floor

Unsalted Seas
Unsalted Seas showcases large lakes of the world, the animals that call them home, and their importance as a global freshwater resource. It features the largest sturgeon touchpool in North America. A panoramic exhibit of diverse and colorful cichlids tells the story of remarkable adaptability in the waters of Africa’s Lake Malawi. Children and adults… View MoreKey Exhibit Features: Animal Contact Seating Space for Movement Staffed Tactile Experience Wet
Location: 1st Floor

Water Wall (Lobby)
Welcome to Great Lakes Aquarium! As you enter, you’ll be greeted by a wall of cascading water and the face of a giant eelpout staring down from above. Book an event at the Aquarium and this space could be your dance floor!Key Exhibit Features: Loud Seating Space for Movement Staffed