Key Exhibit Feature: Seating

Great Lakes Aquarium

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 More
image of full waterwall that has symbols etched into it

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!
A mother standing close to and guiding three excited children as they touch sturgeon with two fingers in a pool of water. A male Aquarium staff member is standing nearby and smiling encouragingly.

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 More
entrance to play area with boat and tree house

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 More
river otter laying down peers over rock ledge

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 More
scuba diver feeding sturgeon in fish tank

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 More
entrance to gallery about shipwrecks with fish tanks in background

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 More