The Belle Isle Conservancy and the City of Detroit's Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship hope you'll bring the family for a day of festivities celebrating the 120th anniversary of the Belle Isle Aquarium.
It's hosting a Family Day on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"We are so appreciative of the City of Detroit and ACE in lifting up such a beloved cultural institution," said Belle Isle Conservancy CEO Meagan Elliott.
The aquarium, designed by George D. Mason and Albert Khan, opened on August 18, 1904. At the time, it was the third-largest in the world. Saltwater was shipped in from the ocean to support the exhibits.
Lean economic times in Detroit in 2005 led to the decision to close the aquarium, but it reopened in 2012.
The only other time the Belle Isle Aquarium has closed to the public is during the COVID-19 pandemic. During that period, the Belle Isle Conservancy invested $1.2-million in improvements, including upgrading the exhibits, modernizing the infrastructure, and enhancing the visitor experience.
The aquarium is a work in progress as new exhibits and fish are added, tanks are restored, and history is preserved.
Today, the Belle Isle Aquarium is the oldest in the U.S. and welcomes thousands of visitors annually.
Admission is free, although a $5 donation at the door is appreciated.
"Detroit has so many unique institutions that have been viewed as the best in the country," said Director of Arts and Culture for the City of Detroit Rochelle Riley.
