The Seattle Aquarium is a vital force for marine conservation. As our local population grows, we must all work to preserve the spectacular beauty and health of Puget Sound. The Seattle Aquarium is uniquely positioned to help over 800,000 visitors including 50,000 students each year understand and become aware of the impact they have on our marine environment.
The Aquarium is owned and operated by the City of Seattle, Department of Parks and Recreation. The Seattle Aquarium Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the official nonprofit organization for the Seattle Aquarium. 
 Opened in 1977, funded by $5.4 million from King County Forward Thrust bonds
Hosted:
- 19.9 million visitors since its opening in 1977
- 521,000 estimated Washington State resident visitors in 2008
- Over 1.6 million school group participants in its 32 years; 50,000 in 2008
- 10,319 school group visitors in 2007 funded by contributions made at our
annual Splash! auction for less advantaged students.
- A record breaking 815,000 visitors in 2008
- 75 full time equivalent staff led by John Braden, Director
- Contributed time from 773 volunteers exceeded 68,686 hours of service
valued at $1,239,095
- Combined annual operating budget: $10.3 million operating budget is
generated through gate receipts, concessions income, membership, grants
and private contributions.
 The expanded Aquarium opened as planned on June 22nd and was completed
within the approved $41.5 million budget. This was a model public/private
partnership with the New Currents Capital Campaign generating support from over
2,000 donors to add to public funds
The Aquarium now boasts these new features:
- Ackerley Foundation Puget Sound Great Hall and Alaskan Way entrance
- Two exciting exhibits: Window on Washington Waters & Crashing Waves.
- The 2,625 square foot Seattle Aquarium Gift Store.
- the Seattle Aquarium Café, with seating for 140 guests and special
evening rental facilities.
 - Mayor Greg Nickels used the Seattle Aquarium's Ackerley Foundation Puget Sound
Hall to launch Seattle Climate Action Now (CAN), an exciting effort which offers
practical tools and resources that help the community to become part of the
solution to climate change.
- Over 1,800 classrooms participated in Aquarium 2006/2007 education programs
including 100 high school students in our Citizen Science Program engaging
students on local beach data collection.
- The Seattle Aquarium's new and improved website has logged over 210,000
visitors from all over the world in 2007.
- During low tides Aquarium volunteers distributed expanded water resistant beach
pocket guides providing info on local beach animal to thousands of beach visitors.
- J Pod Orca Whale Trading Cards were distributed to visitors in the Puget Sound
Orca Whale Family Activity Center.
 The Aquarium Society is governed by an independent 40 Board of Directors,
including many civic, corporate, and philanthropic leaders. The City and Society are
developing a long term strategy to transfer Aquarium management to the Aquarium
Society using the same model as the recent change at Woodland Park Zoo and
other zoos and aquariums nationally. The Society generates support for the Aquarium through:
- Membership of over 21,000 households, processed and services by the Society
- Special Events - including Splash! and the Otter Open Golf Tournament held in
2007 at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge
- Annual Fundraising - donations from our Board members, corporations,
foundations, members and the general public.
- Grants for education, animal research and exhibit improvements.
 - Purchase a Seattle Aquarium membership.
- Donate to the Seattle Aquarium Society Annual Fund.
- Join one of our support groups starting at the Oyster Catcher level ($300) through
the Ocean Advocate level ($5,000).
- Volunteer at the Seattle Aquarium.
- Attend or support our gala auction Splash! on June 12, 2009.
- Play in our fall Otter Open Golf Classic at Broadmoor Golf Club on September 22
Seattle Aquarium Society: Robert Davidson (CEO) 1415 Western Avenue #505
Seattle, WA 98101 206-838-3910 Seattle Aquarium: John Braden (Director) 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59 Seattle, WA
98101 206-386-4334
|