Company Profile
Seattle Aquarium
Company Overview
The Seattle Aquarium Society is a nonprofit organization operating the Seattle Aquarium (the Aquarium) on Seattle’s waterfront. The Aquarium is a leading marine conservation organization with a global reputation and is the ninth-largest aquarium, by attendance, in the United States. We are a mission-driven conservation organization focused on Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment and working to regenerate the health of our one ocean. We work among global leaders to advance animal well-being, marine and ecosystem science, public policy, field conservation, and education that benefits our one ocean. We thoughtfully bring the ocean to life for the public with experiences that inspire awe, empathy, and conservation action. We present extraordinary habitats, marine life, and educational programs that engage and delight all members of our local and global communities. Our work is integral to a healthy future for marine life, people, and the planet. Annual attendance currently averages around 800,000 guests per year. The Aquarium is expecting to open its $160 million expansion at the center of Seattle’s revitalized waterfront in the summer of 2024 and attendance should grow by as much as 50% when the expanded Aquarium opens. The Aquarium employs more than 200 full and part-time employees and supports over 700 volunteers.
Company History
Opened in 1977, the Seattle Aquarium was owned and operated by the City of Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation until 2010, when the nonprofit Seattle Aquarium Society assumed its management—a model used by most leading zoos and aquariums across the country. In 2007, the Aquarium opened a major expansion that added 18,000 square feet of space to the facility, including an impressive 120,000-gallon exhibit, a gift shop, café, meeting/event space and more. The Seattle Aquarium operates as a nonprofit 501c3, through a long-term operating agreement with the City of Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation.
Currently, the Aquarium’s animal collection is housed within six major exhibits: Window on Washington Waters, Life on the Edge, Pacific Coral Reef, Birds & Shores, the Underwater Dome and Marine Mammals. The renovation of our harbor seal exhibit, opened in June of 2013, was the first step in our 20-year strategic plan, which includes a goal of significantly increasing our physical size and becoming the centerpiece of the City’s revitalized waterfront.