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While the major construction and repair work on the building’s basement foundation are complete, aquarium staff still have significant work to do before we can reopen. This includes rebuilding seawater systems, resetting tanks and exhibits, and safely sourcing animals for display. This thorough process ensures that all systems are fully functioning and that every animal is healthy before we welcome back visitors.
We cannot wait to “sea” you soon!
The main focus was repairing a degraded structural wall in the basement. This repair work was essential to ensure the building is safe for visitors, staff, and animals.
The basement is not open to the public, but it houses critical life support systems—including pumps, sand filters, biological filters, ozone systems, and reservoirs—that are necessary to maintain clean water for display tanks. It also serves as quarantine and hospital space for fish, and occasionally provides temporary housing for rehabilitating sea turtles awaiting release back into the wild.
During construction, we improved several areas of the aquarium, including the Veterinary and Water Quality Lab. The main gallery also underwent some modernization and aesthetic updates. New exhibits are being planned for installation over the next few years.
The major construction and repair work is complete, but a few smaller items are still being addressed. All work should be completed by the end of 2026.
Animals at the aquarium come from a variety of sources. Some are traded with other aquariums, but most are hand-collected by aquarium staff or NOAA survey crews. We also collaborate with state survey programs in Massachusetts and Maine to sustainably collect animals for display.
Prioritizing locally collected species allows us to safely return most animals back into the wild if they outgrow our display tanks.
During quarantine, animals are sorted by species and size and monitored for 30 to 90-days. During this time, they receive medicated baths, are checked for internal and external parasites, and undergo detailed health exams by our veterinarian, including examinations of their skin and gills. Some animals even receive X-rays!
Yes! Our attending veterinarian oversees the medical care of all our animals. They assist our aquarium biologists with advanced treatments, ranging from ultrasounds and endoscopies to necessary surgical procedures.
Because many of our animals come from the wild, they often carry parasites that can quickly spread through shared water systems and infect other fish. Quarantine allows our staff to treat animals individually before they are introduced to the collection. This helps prevent harmful organisms from compromising the health of the entire collection.
To ensure that all creatures—from our largest fish to tiny corals—are in peak health, the process can take several months. Each animal receives an individual veterinary exam.
We are also thoroughly testing our seawater systems to ensure the post-construction water environment is completely safe and clean. This testing takes additional time, but it is an important part of preparing the aquarium to reopen.
A small group of resident animals remained on-site during the closure, including visitor favorites such as “Stumpy” the diamondback terrapin, “Queenie” the queen triggerfish, and our two ocean pouts.
Returning favorites will include northern puffers, winter flounder, tautog, and black sea bass. Visitors will also see species we haven’t displayed in years, including buffalo trunkfish, juvenile Atlantic cod, northern stargazer, and flying gurnard.
The aquarium’s most recent resident harbor seal, Bubba, moved to the Fort Wayne Zoo in Fort Wayne, Indiana in October 2025. Bubba will remain in Fort Wayne in the “Coastal Cove” exhibit alongside a small group of sea lions.
For the time being, the seal pool will remain closed while aquarium staff focus on rebuilding the aquarium’s main fish collection.
Established in 1875, the Woods Hole Science Aquarium is the country’s oldest public marine aquarium. It displays on average 100 species of marine animals found in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic U.S. waters. Visitors can explore the main exhibits and learn about the aquarium’s operations through self-guided tours. At the aquarium, you will find:
Visitors are also allowed behind the scenes, where they can ask questions and watch the staff feed animals, clean tanks, and work on the life support systems. Approximately 80,000 people visit the aquarium every year, including 10,000 children in school groups.
Visitors spend an average of 20 to 30 minutes touring our aquarium, but are encouraged to stay as long as they like.
Learn more about our residents and exhibits
The aquarium is located on Cape Cod in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Call (508) 495-2001 to hear our current operating schedule or check back here, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter/X.
There is no off-street parking available at the Aquarium. The village has on-street metered parking, but spots fill up quickly in summer.
Visitors should use public transportation if possible. During the summer, consider parking in Falmouth and using the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority bus service. Bicycling between Woods Hole and Falmouth is also a popular alternative, and there is a bike rack located by our main entrance.
We welcome visits from school groups and civic organizations. Groups larger than 10 should make a reservation by calling our reservation line: (508) 495-2267. Be sure to include:
Your group is not confirmed until you hear back from aquarium staff. The busiest season for groups is spring. If you would like to bring a school group anytime from March through June, please call for reservations as early in the school year as possible.
In addition to disability parking spaces and a wheelchair ramp, we’re happy to adjust our visitor policies and hours to meet your needs. To discuss accessibility options before your visit, please contact us via email or call us at (508) 495-2267.
A ramp at the rear of the aquarium provides access to the second floor behind-the-scenes area and touch tank. If you need wheelchair access for the second floor, please notify the reception desk on arrival.
Service dogs are always welcome at Woods Hole Science Aquarium. They must be leashed and remain on the ground at all times.
For safety reasons, strollers are not permitted inside the aquarium. A designated stroller parking area is available near the entrance.
Public restrooms with changing tables are available near the reception desk.
We love to hear from our visitors. Your feedback helps us improve the Aquarium experience. You can e-mail comments to the aquarium staff or send mail to:
Woods Hole Science Aquarium
166 Water Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543
We offer a number of programs to involve the public, students, and aspiring scientists. They help us care for animals at the aquarium, and learn about marine science.
The Woods Hole Science Aquarium is the oldest public aquarium in the country. Spencer Baird, the nation’s first U.S. Fish Commissioner, established a research station on Little Harbor in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, during the summer of 1871. In 1875, a research aquarium was added to the station, which was opened for public tours in the summer.
Baird set aside space in the aquarium for educational displays featuring local sea life and exhibits to help people learn more about the sea around them. Visitors might also encounter a researcher or two, since it was also a working research aquarium.
Read more about our history.
Now well into its second century, the Woods Hole Science Aquarium continues to maintain sea life that can be found in local waters as its core collection. It also continues to carry out the dual missions Baird envisioned—supporting fisheries research and educating the public about marine life and marine science.
In the late 20th century, the aquarium took on a third mission—conservation. Our aquarium staff now rehabilitate and release cold-stunned turtles and provide a permanent home for stranded seals that cannot be released to the wild.
Last updated by Northeast Fisheries Science Center on 09/23/2026