The
National Aquarium (formerly known as the
National Aquarium in Baltimore) is a
non-profit public aquarium located at 501 E Pratt Street in the
Inner Harbor area of
Baltimore, Maryland in the
United States. Constructed during a period of
urban renewal in Baltimore, the aquarium opened on August 8, 1981. The aquarium has an annual attendance of 1.5 million. The Aquarium holds more than of water, and has more than 17,000 specimens representing over 750 species. In 2003, the National Aquarium and the independent
National Aquarium in Washington joined as one National Aquarium. The National Aquarium's mission is to inspire conservation of the world's aquatic treasures. The aquarium's stated vision is to confront pressing issues facing global aquatic habitats through pioneering science, conservation, and educational programming.