Georgia Aquarium, in downtown Atlanta north of Centennial Olympic Park, opened in 2005 as the world’s largest aquarium and remains the largest in the United States. Created through the vision and funding of Bernard Marcus, support from corporations, a donated site, and the leadership of founding president Jeff Swanagan, it grew into a major nonprofit institution with seven galleries, hundreds of species, and thousands of animals. Its signature Ocean Voyager habitat made it the first institution outside Asia to keep whale sharks. Along with its popularity as an attraction, the aquarium has emphasized animal care, research, conservation partnerships, rescue efforts, and endangered-species work.