America’s Oldest Aquarium Can Be Found In Michigan

As a kid, you most likely took a trip to Chicago and visited the Shedd Aquarium. I went in 8th grade and bought myself a penguin in the gift shop. It was a great time, obviously.

However, the splendor of Shedd Aquarium being so close to here has possibly overshadowed Michigan's very own aquarium, which is apparently one of the oldest and most beautiful in the US. Have you been to Belle Isle Aquarium?

Belle Isle Aquarium

Founded in 1904, the Belle Isle Aquarium is the oldest public aquarium in the U.S. and used to be the third-largest aquarium in the entire world. The design of the aquarium was meticulous from the very start, with architect Albert Kahn taking inspiration from Roman architecture.

Neptune, God of the Sea, greets every visitor upon entrance. Kahn also installed very rare opaline glass tiles along the ceiling. His goal was to create an aquarium that looked like an art exhibit, with the fish being the art in a gallery. His work paid off and it is still considered the most beautiful aquarium in the US.

The aquarium served the city of Detroit for over 100 years before being shut down in 2005 due to financial constraints, however, a volunteer group called Dedicated Friends of the Belle Isle Aquarium continued to maintain and preserve the aquarium. Due to their hard work, it reopened in 2012 and is now a free aquarium to the public.

The aquarium is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year. You can visit it and the neighboring Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory today.