Adventure Aquarium sits on the Camden Waterfront along the Delaware River, directly across from Philadelphia. The facility traces back to 1992 as the New Jersey State Aquarium and reopened under its current name in 2005 after a major renovation led by Herschend Family Entertainment, which still operates it today.
The aquarium spans 200,000 square feet of public space and holds roughly 2 million gallons of water across its habitats, home to more than 15,000 aquatic animals. It’s best known for two distinctions: the largest shark collection in the Northeast and being the only aquarium in the world to exhibit Nile hippopotamuses.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Camden, New Jersey
- Opened: 1992 (as New Jersey State Aquarium); reopened as Adventure Aquarium in 2005
- Size: 200,000 sq ft of public space; about 2 million gallons of water
- Animal count: more than 15,000 aquatic animals
- Annual visitors: around 600,000+
- Famous for: only aquarium in the world exhibiting Nile hippos
Sharks and the Shark Bridge
Adventure Aquarium holds the largest shark collection in the Northeast, displayed in the 550,000-gallon Shark Realm with a 40-foot underwater tunnel, the longest in New Jersey. Above the tank runs Shark Bridge, a V-shaped rope suspension bridge that lets visitors cross just inches over the water. The aquarium has also been one of only two in the United States to exhibit a great hammerhead shark.
Hippo Haven and Other Exhibits
Hippo Haven is home to Genny and Button, Nile hippopotamuses that make Adventure Aquarium the only aquarium anywhere to exhibit the species. Other highlights include Little Blue Beach’s African penguins, Sea Turtle Cove, the 760,000-gallon Ocean Realm, and the Jules Verne Gallery featuring Japanese spider crabs and a giant Pacific octopus. The venue also has the Adventure Theatre, noted as the first 4-D capable auditorium built into an American aquarium when it opened in 2005.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
Adventure Aquarium FAQs
When did Adventure Aquarium open?
The facility opened in 1992 as the New Jersey State Aquarium and reopened under the Adventure Aquarium name on May 25, 2005, following a renovation and rebrand.
Where is Adventure Aquarium located?
It’s on the Camden Waterfront in Camden, New Jersey, along the Delaware River across from Philadelphia.
What animals is Adventure Aquarium known for?
It’s known for its large shark collection and for being the only aquarium in the world to exhibit Nile hippopotamuses, Genny and Button. In all, the aquarium houses more than 15,000 aquatic animals.
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Photo: ajay_suresh / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.