Nature is healing, with a little help from humans of course. The National Aquarium celebrated its 43rd birthday last month with the ribbon cutting of a new one-of-a-kind exhibit.
Families can now visit the Harbor Wetland during National Aquarium operating hours, for free and without purchasing an aquarium ticket.
The newly opened Harbor Wetland habitat is the result of more than a decade of research, innovation and determination, according to the aquarium’s president and CEO, John Racanelli.
The wetland exhibit is a floating 10,000-square-foot classroom come to life with walkways, shade and educational signage to guide parents and children alike through what they’re seeing.
The habitat classroom is part of a concerted effort to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay, says Sen. Chris Van Hollen, in a news release about the project. Van Hollen worked to secure $564,700 to support the Harbor Wetland project through Congressionally Directed Spending and the Chesapeake WILD program, which he authored.
While the native tidal wetland shrubs’ and grasses’ roots are in the harbor, the project itself is rooted in hope.
“My hope is that when people see the life this wetland attracts, from tiny microorganisms to fishes, crabs, water birds and even small animals like muskrats and otters—all of which we’re already seeing here—they might reconsider our local waterways and perhaps even take better care of our natural surroundings,” adds Jack Cover, general curator at the National Aquarium, in news release.
Plan your family’s visit to see these wild critters or dive into learning at the National Aquarium at aqua.org.
