The New England Aquarium has anchored Boston’s Central Wharf since it opened on June 20, 1969, becoming one of the city’s most visited cultural institutions. Designed by architect Peter Chermayeff of Cambridge Seven Associates as part of a broader revitalization of Boston’s historic waterfront, the aquarium’s distinctive brutalist concrete building was a bold architectural statement when it debuted, and its centerpiece exhibit followed a year later in 1970.
At the heart of the aquarium sits the Giant Ocean Tank, a four-story, 200,000-gallon cylindrical tank that recreates a Caribbean coral reef and is home to Myrtle, a green sea turtle believed to be in her 90s who has lived there since the tank opened. Beyond the Giant Ocean Tank, the aquarium houses roughly 10,000 animals across galleries devoted to tropical, temperate, freshwater, and northern waters habitats, alongside a penguin colony and a shark and ray touch tank, drawing over a million visitors in a typical year.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Central Wharf, Boston, Massachusetts
- Opened: June 20, 1969
- Size: 75,000 sq ft building; Giant Ocean Tank holds 200,000 gallons
- Animal count: About 10,000 animals
- Annual visitors: About 1.3 million (pre-pandemic figure)
- Hours: Generally daily, about 9 a.m.–6 p.m., with seasonal variation
- Admission: Adults about $39.95; children (3-11) about $30.95; seniors about $37.95
- Famous for: The Giant Ocean Tank and Myrtle the green sea turtle
The Giant Ocean Tank Experience
Visitors circle the four-story Giant Ocean Tank via a spiraling ramp, viewing a simulated Caribbean coral reef stocked with sharks, rays, moray eels, and hundreds of tropical fish. The tank’s best-known resident, Myrtle, is a green sea turtle who has called the exhibit home since it opened in 1970 and is estimated to be up to 95 years old, making her one of the aquarium’s longest-tenured animals.
Beyond the central tank, the aquarium’s galleries cover freshwater, temperate, and northern waters ecosystems, along with an outdoor penguin habitat featuring African and southern rockhopper penguins, and a hands-on shark and ray touch tank holding about 25,000 gallons.
Visitor Hours and Tickets
The aquarium is generally open daily, with hours running roughly 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. year-round, though exact closing times can shift slightly by season, so checking the official site before a visit is recommended. Standard admission runs about $39.95 for adults, $30.95 for children ages 3-11, and $37.95 for seniors, with children 2 and under admitted free; residents of the six New England states receive a discount off standard pricing.
Because the Giant Ocean Tank and weekend time slots frequently sell out, the aquarium strongly encourages purchasing timed-entry tickets online in advance rather than relying on walk-up admission.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
New England Aquarium FAQs
When did the New England Aquarium open?
The New England Aquarium opened on June 20, 1969, on Boston’s Central Wharf, with its signature Giant Ocean Tank exhibit following in 1970.
What are the New England Aquarium’s hours and how much are tickets?
The aquarium is generally open daily from about 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., though hours can vary slightly by season. Standard admission is about $39.95 for adults, $30.95 for children 3-11, and $37.95 for seniors, with advance online booking recommended since timed entries often sell out.
Who is Myrtle the turtle?
Myrtle is a green sea turtle who has lived in the Giant Ocean Tank since it opened and is estimated to be in her 90s, making her one of the aquarium’s most famous long-term residents.
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Photo: ajay_suresh / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.