The Tennessee Aquarium, a nonprofit public aquarium on downtown Chattanooga’s Tennessee Riverfront, opened in 1992 as a centerpiece of the city’s late-20th-century waterfront revival. Built on the site of abandoned warehouses with strong private support, it quickly became a leading attraction and a catalyst for wider urban renewal. Its original River Journey building focused on freshwater habitats and the “Story of the River,” while the 2005 Ocean Journey expansion extended that theme into saltwater and tropical environments. With more than 12,000 animals representing almost 800 species, the aquarium has drawn widespread recognition and millions of visitors.

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain