Greater Cleveland Aquarium welcomed its two millionth daytime guest in April of 2022, the Britt family from Bratenahl, Ohio. “We come for our little guy . . . he loves seeing turtles and sharks, and he’s always talking about the octopus,” explained mother Chelsea Britt.
Reaching two million general admission visitors wasn’t the first milestone moment the Aquarium celebrated this year. Established in 2012, the Flats West Bank attraction began celebrating its 10 anniversary by announcing the rare births of weedy seadragons, an event few aquariums in the world have witnessed.
“This is a major accomplishment and we’re excited to document and share what we learn from the process with others focused on the conservation of this delicate species,” says curator Ray Popik. Ray’s team cares for more than 3,600 fresh and saltwater animals.
The Aquarium is located in a powerhouse that once generated electricity for streetcars and the seadragons reside in a reimagined coal chute. While the habitat’s vertical space worked perfectly for “dancing” seadragons, retrofitting the first level of a historic brick building for an aquarium has not been without its challenges," explains Senior Maintenance Technician Mike Gorek.
He continues: “Finding opportunities in the limitations and figuring out how to create viable, one-of-a-kind habitats from scratch the way we have with the giant Pacific octopus arch or the Tropical Forest aviary is a fun and fulfilling part of my job.”
Dive Safety Coordinator Halle Minshall heads up the underwater team responsible for maintaining those exhibits. While she loves interacting with guests while diving with sharks and stingrays, her biggest reward comes from seeing visitors make connections with the aquatic world.
“We encourage guests to consider how their actions can impact waterways and the natural habitats of some pretty amazing animals,” says Halle.
Office Assistant Neda Spears believes species diversity, immersive decor, unique views and a strong sense of connection have helped to solidify the Aquarium as a staple destination in an increasingly vibrant part of the city.
“When we opened a decade ago, there wasn’t nearly as much activity in The Flats and the adjacent Gordon Square, Hingetown and Ohio City neighborhoods,” she says. “Now, there are any number of nearby eateries, breweries, shops, performance venues and park trails for our team, guests and 15,000 members to enjoy.”
The Aquarium is conveniently positioned just steps away from the Cuyahoga River and a short drive from the West Side Market, Rock Hall, Great Lakes Science Center, Progressive Field, Playhouse Square and other downtown Cleveland destinations.
“If you’re planning a day trip to Cleveland, it’s easy to add us to the itinerary so you can spend time spotting Solomon Island leaf frogs, watching sea stars’ tiny tube feet in action or examining the ‘toothy grins’ of a sand tiger sharks gliding over your head,” says General Manager Stephanie White.
Greater Cleveland Aquarium is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission ranges from $0 to $19.95. For tickets and information, visit GreaterClevelandAquarium.com.