Why You Should Visit the National Aquarium in Washington DC

I had an opportunity recently to visit The National Aquarium, situated at Department of Commerce Building in room number B-077, 14 Th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, in the downtown of Washington DC through the field trip of the senior's center of Montgomery County. We started in luxury bus at around 10 am from the senior's center and reached at about 11 am at the National Aquarium by traveling through the most scenic highway and the downtown Washington.

There is an entrée fee of $5 for each adult and $4 for the senior citizen for this aquarium. There are in all around 76 viewing stations in this famous aquarium. This aquarium is the oldest aquarium of the entire USA and was established in the year 1873. The aquarium was shifted at the present location in the year 1932. There are mainly four viewing galleries here, which are called National Parks Gallery, American Fresh water Ecosystems Gallery, Amphibians Gallery, and the Amazon River Basin Gallery. The aquarium has many types of the animals kept in the most beautifully designed stations. Some of the most important specimens in the National Parks category are Alligator Nest, Florida keys, Ball python, and Pacific patch Reef. The specimen like Endangered Species, Colorado River, and the Mississippi River are very interesting in the category of American Freshwater Ecosystems gallery. Similarly, specimen of Thunder Bay NMS, Barking Tree frog, and the Lake of Ozark are very vital in the category of Amphibians.

Specimen like Rio Negro, Flooded forest, Poison Frogs, Piranhas, and Amazon adaptations are the most outstanding in Amazon River Basin Gallery. The entire round in the aquarium may take around an hour or so depending upon the interest you are having in each specimen. There is a daily lecture and the feeding show at 2 pm in the aquarium. Make sure not to miss this fabulous opportunity of getting familiar with the food habits of the animals. At present, there is a feed show to Piranhas on every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday and to Sharks on Monday, Wednesday, and the Friday. Most of the specimen need to feed only for 3 times during the week as their metabolism is very slow and frequent feeding can lead to their illness. The aquarium is very informative and the details regarding each specimen are described clearly at each view station. There is a very nice gift shop at the entrance of the aquarium where one can shop for the items related to this fantastic aquarium. Though this aquarium appears smaller than the most famous aquarium of Baltimore, it has a beauty of its own and the specific arrangement and the interior decorations of the species storage and living are really remarkable.

One can join The National Aquarium Society by paying the charges of $15 for the individual, $25 for the couple, and $40 for the family of four. Membership is good for one year and includes their newsletter and 10% discount at the aquarium gift shop and on birthday rentals. You can also sponsor the animals by paying $50 or $100 and can get two free passes to the aquarium. Such donations can be exempted from the tax as per the laws of the USA. Special trips of the school students can also be arranged through prior booking at discounted rates. You can also opt to be a volunteer as an aquarist aid or for education or docent positions by contacting the authorities at the e mail bsimpkins@nationalaquarium.com.

If you are interested in peaceful and detailed viewing of the animals, this National Aquarium at Washington DC is the ideal place for all.