Birch Aquarium at Scripps

Fact Sheet

Check out Birch Aquarium at Scripps in the news!  

Mission:

To provide ocean science education, to interpret Scripps research and to promote ocean conservation.

Location:

2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, California

Hours:

9 a.m. 5 p.m. daily
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's days

Admission Rate:

Adult – $12.00
Senior (60+) – $9.00
College Students with I.D. – $9.00
Youth (3-17 years) – $8.50
UCSD Staff & Students (with ID) – $8.00
Children 2 & under Free      
Members Group rates (by reservation: 858-534-6691)

Information:

858-534-FISH, aquariuminfo@ucsd.edu

Current Exhibits:

Feeling the Heat: The Climate Challenge: Explores the scientific facts behind climate change and global warming, highlighting Scripps half century of climate research. Interactive exhibits for all ages. In Fall 2007, the exhibit was named the Silver winner in museum design for the 2007 Event Design Awards. Sponsored by Connecticut-based Event Design Magazine, the annual awards recognize the best designs worldwide across events, exhibits and environments. Watch a video about the exhibit here.

Wonders of Water: Exhibits the forces behind of erosion, water flow and ocean currents through interactive stations that allow visitors to create rapids, canals, dams and islands.

There's Something About Seahorses (Opens November 14, 2009): Saddle up for a close encounter with the sea's most captivating creature, and learn all the unique "somethings" about seahorses. See more than a dozen seahorse species and their relatives, visit babies in the special seahorse nursery, investigate what makes the seahorse a fish, and discover  Birch Aquarium's award-winning efforts to conserve this threatened animal. 

Major Exhibits:

Hall of Fishes : Features more than 60 tanks of Pacific fishes and invertebrates from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest to the tropical waters of Mexico and the Caribbean. The largest habitat is a 70,000-gallon kelp forest.

Shark Reef: 13,000-gallon tank devoted to shark species that inhabit tropical reef habitats, including whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, nurse sharks, and epaulette sharks. Interpretive panels on shark biology and conservation accompany the reef.

Tide Pool Plaza: Features three living tide pools where visitors can touch and learn about inhabitants with docents. Windows in the habitats provide up-close views of starfish, hermit crabs, sea cucumbers, lobsters and other animals local to San Diego's tide pools. Pools overlook La Jolla and the Pacific Ocean.

Live Exhibits:

More than 5,000 specimens representing more than 380 species of fishes and invertebrates.

Feeding:

Kelp Forest Dive Show:
12:30 Tuesday, Thursday; 2 p.m. Saturday; 10:30 Sunday
Shark Tank:
10:30 Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
NW Coast Gallery:
10:30 Wednesday
Southern California Gallery:
10:30 Wednesday
Tide Pool:
2:00 Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Tropical Reefs:
11:00 Wednesday

Refreshments:

Splash! Cafe offers an array of gourmet delights next to the life-sized gray whale mother and calf fountain. Serves hot and cold beverages, sandwiches, snacks and more in an outdoor atmosphere with plenty of seating and umbrellas for shade. Open 9-4 weekdays, 9-5 weekends. Cash only.

Souvenirs:

The aquarium's book and gift shop carries a wide selection of informative field guides, books about the ocean and near-shore environments, marine-themed toys, clothing, jewelry, fine art and more. Open 9:30-5 daily. Merchandise also available online.

Size:

Total Aquarium: 64,157 sq. feet
Interior: 32,657 sq. feet
Tide Pool: 4,500 sq. feet
Outside Patios: 27,000 sq. feet 

Operating Basis:

Non-profit, self-supporting

Accreditation:
Association of Zoos & Aquariums 

Opening:

Sept. 16, 1992

Cost:

$14 million (land donated by UC San Diego)

Attendance:

 400,000+ annually

Attendance from student groups:

77,000 + annually

Staff:

70 employees, 300+ volunteers

Access:

All exhibits and facilities are accessible to visitors with disabilities.

Recognitions:

• Winter 2008: Executive Director Nigella Hillgarth is recognized as a 2009 Metro Mover to Watch by San Diego Metropolitan Magazine.

• Fall 2008: San Diegans voted Birch Aquarium at Scripps as a Top 3 Local Museum in the annual 10News.com A-List poll.

• Spring 2008: Birch Aquarium at Scripps is named San Diego's Best Children's Activity Center or Museum in Ranch & Coast magazine's third-annual "Readers' Choice: Best of 2008" survey

• Fall 2007: Feeling the Heat: The Climate Challenge exhibition is named the Silver winner in museum design for the 2007 Event Design Awards. Sponsored by Connecticut-based Event Design Magazine, the annual awards recognize the best designs worldwide across events, exhibits and environments.