Birch Aquarium at Scripps sits on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla, California, serving as the public outreach center for the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. The aquarium traces its roots back over a century to Scripps’ early marine research programs, evolving into the modern 64,157-square-foot facility that opened in 1992 with a $14 million expansion.
Today the aquarium is home to more than 9,000 animals representing over 380 species, displayed across tanks holding roughly 175,000 gallons of seawater, including a 70,000-gallon centerpiece tank. In May 2025, Birch Aquarium unveiled the Adam R. Scripps Living Seas Gallery, the largest capital project in the aquarium’s history, further expanding its exhibit space along the coastal bluff.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: La Jolla, San Diego, California
- Opened: 1992 (current facility)
- Size: About 64,157 sq ft; 175,000 gallons of seawater
- Species: Over 380 species, 9,000+ animals
- Annual visitors: 500,000+
- Famous for: Public research arm of Scripps Institution of Oceanography
A Window Into Scripps Research
Unlike a standalone attraction, Birch Aquarium operates as the public exploration center for Scripps Institution of Oceanography, one of the world’s leading centers for ocean and earth science. Exhibits are designed to translate current Scripps research into hands-on experiences, connecting visitors to real studies on climate change, marine biodiversity, and ocean health happening just up the road at the institution’s La Jolla campus.
The aquarium also runs conservation breeding programs, including a weedy seadragon program that produced 70 captive-bred seadragons in 2023, a notable success for a species that is notoriously difficult to breed in exhibit settings.
Exhibits Worth Exploring
Visitors can walk through habitats ranging from the Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins lagoon to the Seadragons & Seahorses gallery, a kelp forest tank, and the outdoor Tide-Pool Plaza where guests can touch sea stars and anemones. The 2025 addition of the Adam R. Scripps Living Seas Gallery expanded the aquarium’s footprint with new habitats focused on global ocean ecosystems.
Educational programming is a core part of the experience, with the aquarium hosting more than 40,000 pre-K through 12th grade students annually through field trips and outreach programs tied to its research mission.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps FAQs
Where is Birch Aquarium at Scripps located?
It’s located on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla, a neighborhood of San Diego, California, as part of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography campus at UC San Diego.
How many species does Birch Aquarium have?
The aquarium houses more than 9,000 animals representing over 380 species across its indoor and outdoor exhibits.
When did Birch Aquarium’s current building open?
The current facility opened in 1992 following a $14 million expansion, though its connection to Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s public exhibits dates back much further.
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Photo: Beyond My Ken / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.