The Shedd Aquarium opened in 1930 and is named for John G. Shedd, a retired presidentcallout_watersofworld.jpg of Marshall Field & Company (the flagship Marshall Field’s department store, now owned by Macy’s, is located downtown on State Street). Shedd was a powerful booster for the city of Chicago, and gave several million dollars to make sure his aquarium would be just as grand as the two museums already in Grant Park: the Art Institute of Chicago and the Field Museum. When it opened, it was the world’s largest aquarium and the first to claim itself an inland aquarium with a permanent saltwater collection.

The Shedd has over 22,000 aquatic animals representing 1500 species of fish, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, birds, and mammals. Special exhibits include Amazon Rising, Caribbean Reef, and Wild Reef, complete with several dozen sharks. The Oceanarium has shows several times a day featuring staff interacting with dolphins, whales, and other marine mammals. A special temporary exhibit includes the Komodo lizard, sometimes called the Komodo Dragon.

Shedd Aquarium
Address: 1200 South Lake Shore Drive (see directions in a previous post)
Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm M-F, 9:00am-6:00pm Sa-Su
Admission: $8, aquarium only (adult); $27.50, aquarium, special exhibits, Oceanarium, and 4-D theater

- Patricia Pinkowski & Jim Shedlock

(Photo from Shedd Aquarium website)