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NORWALK, Conn. The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is undergoing a major transformation that will give visitors a more vivid understanding of the marine life in Long Island Sound.
"The footprint of the aquarium isn't changing. We're trying to create a deeper, richer, more dynamic exploration of Long Island Sound," said Dave Sigworth, publicist for the aquarium.
The aquarium is unique because it is mainly devoted to a single body of water. It is undergoing a $4 million renovation, dubbed the "FINtastic RefurbFISHment," that will change the walking pattern of the aquarium to put a bigger emphasis on telling a more complete, linear story of Long Island Sound.
The journey starts in Newman's Own Hall, the new name of the large room that contains the seal tank. The hall will feature a large new map of the Sound and interactive kiosks that prepare visitors to think about the Sound as they travel through the aquarium's galleries.
After leaving Newman's Own Hall, museum-goers will walk through galleries filled with a variety of creatures from the Sound. This journey will be called the Hokin Family Sound Voyage, named after Richard Hokin of Darien, who donated $1.15 million to the aquarium.
Popular exhibits like the tiger shark, sea turtles, otters, jellyfish and touch tank will stay where they are along the Hokin Family Sound Voyage, and many new creatures will be added. Soon there will be tanks filled with snapping turtles, American eels, fiddler crabs, box turtles, cornet fish, guitar fish and garter snakes. There will also be new information posted about each of the animals along the way.
One of the favorites with kids is the ray touch pool, which is getting a major facelift. The current 20-foot pool will be replaced by a 90-foot tank filled with rays and sharks you can touch. There will also be a nursery with shark egg cases offering the chance to watch live shark births.
Sigworth said the aquarium has worked hard to make sure the construction doesnt diminish the museum experience for visitors. The only exhibit that is not available is a frog display on the second floor. The ray pool and the seal tank have been moved. And the aquarium has set up two "Currents" visitors can travel through to ensure that they still get to see everything it has to offer.
The tour ends in the Go Fish exhibit. This permanent display depicts the impact humans have on the Sound and concludes the journey by showing how people are connected to the wildlife that lives just beyond the shore.
What's your favorite exhibit at the Maritime Aquarium? Tell us in the comments below.
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