Oklahoma Aquarium Foundation

When the idea of a public, educational aquarium in Oklahoma was first raised more than 20 years ago, critics questioned whether we would survive.  Celebrating our 10 year anniversary in 2013, the Oklahoma Aquarium is not only surviving, but thriving.  We have welcomed more than 3.5 million guests, including thousands of schoolchildren.  From the tiniest invertebrates to the largest bull sharks in captivity, visitors develop a new appreciation of these species through up-close, interactive experiences, even rolling up their sleeves to feel the difference between the smooth, slippery skin of a stingray and the sandy back of a small shark.  More than 70% of our planet is covered by water, so the importance of our oceans, rivers, lakes and streams and the animals that inhabit these ecosystems cannot be stressed enough.  We hope our guests come away with increased awareness of how their actions can impact even far away waterways, and that they develop an increased desire to protect our precious aquatic resources.