The South Carolina Aquarium opened on May 19, 2000, on Charleston’s waterfront, giving visitors a close look at the diverse ecosystems found across the Palmetto State, from mountain streams to the open ocean. The nonprofit, AZA-accredited facility sits at 100 Aquarium Wharf with sweeping views of Charleston Harbor, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, and the USS Yorktown.
Spanning 93,000 square feet across two stories, the aquarium is home to more than 5,000 animals representing South Carolina’s varied habitats. Its centerpiece, the Great Ocean Tank, holds 385,000 gallons of water and reaches 42 feet deep, making it the deepest aquarium tank in North America. The facility also runs the Sea Turtle Care Center, a working rehabilitation hospital that has released hundreds of rescued sea turtles back into the wild.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Charleston, South Carolina
- Opened: May 19, 2000
- Size: 93,000 sq ft
- Main Tank: 385,000 gallons, 42 feet deep
- Animal Count: More than 5,000 animals
- Annual Visitors: About 450,000
- Famous For: Sea Turtle Care Center rehabilitation hospital
Exhibits and Galleries
The aquarium organizes its exhibits to trace a journey across South Carolina’s geography, moving from the Mountain Forest and Piedmont galleries through the Coastal Plain and into the Great Ocean Tank. The Shallows, a 20,000-gallon touch tank that opened in May 2015, lets visitors reach in and touch cownose rays and southern stingrays on a terrace overlooking Charleston Harbor, while the Saltmarsh Aviary showcases native birds in a recreated marsh habitat.
In 2025 the aquarium expanded and renamed its original hands-on touch tank to Boneyard Beach, more than doubling its size to introduce species like horseshoe crabs, chain dogfish, and sea urchins, and opened the Boeing Learning Lab at the Charleston Maritime Center to expand its STEM education programming for schools and families across the state.
Conservation and Sea Turtle Rescue
Beyond its exhibits, the South Carolina Aquarium operates the Sea Turtle Care Center, a hospital dedicated to rescuing, treating, and releasing injured or stranded sea turtles found along the Carolina coast. As of mid-2025, the program had rescued, rehabilitated, and released more than 460 sea turtles, making it one of the aquarium’s most visible conservation efforts and a highlight for visitors who can often view turtles recovering on-site.
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South Carolina Aquarium FAQs
When did the South Carolina Aquarium open?
The South Carolina Aquarium opened to the public on May 19, 2000, in downtown Charleston.
How big is the main tank at the South Carolina Aquarium?
The Great Ocean Tank holds 385,000 gallons of water and is 42 feet deep, making it the deepest aquarium tank in North America.
Does the South Carolina Aquarium rescue sea turtles?
Yes, its Sea Turtle Care Center is a working rehabilitation hospital that has rescued, treated, and released hundreds of sea turtles.
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Photo: JonathanLamb / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.