As the days run out on 2024, we’re excited to close the book on another fantastic year of fulfilling the Aquarium’s mission to connect people with water and wildlife.
Beyond our campus, our conservation scientists saved a critically endangered species from the brink of extinction, and our expanding staff of educators brought engaging programming to even more members of our community.
Inside the Aquarium’s walls, we witnessed an unprecedented spawning event in one of our newest galleries and reaped the benefits of our expertise in animal care through the continuing success of our turtle and penguin breeding programs.
As we prepare to ring in 2025, we’re feeling quite accomplished as we look back at 12 of the most significant events that took place this year.
Left: Tennessee Dace and Saffron Shiners spawn on a River Chub nest in the Tennessee Aquarium's Ridges to Rivers gallery's large stream exhibit. Right: An Arakan Forest Turtle hatchling.
Colorful minnows spawned on a River Chub nest in the Ridges to Rivers gallery
Thanks to the nest-building work of an industrious River Chub, an entire community of Tennessee Shiners, Tennessee Dace, and Saffron Shiners were induced to spawn in the gallery’s 22-foot-long artificial stream, sparking tremendous excitement inside the Aquarium and among our peers. This event echoed what naturally occurs in Southern Appalachian streams and vindicated our commitment to create true-to-wild habitats for our residents.
We welcomed our 28 millionth guest
The Beeler Family from Dalton, Georgia, and their fortuitously named children “Ridge” and “River” — yes, really — became the Aquarium’s 28 millionth guests. (No, this wasn’t planned.)
Newsweek readers named us the country’s best Aquarium
Voters placed us highest on the podium out of a national field of aquariums nominated by a panel of travel writers, journalists, bloggers, and editors.
We hatched seven critically endangered Arakan Forest Turtles
The clutch represented the largest single hatching event for this Southeast Asian species at a facility accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
Left: Tennessee Aquarium VP, Chief Conservation & Education Officer Dr. Anna George, right, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Conservation Delivery Coordinator Geoff Call collect critically endangered Laurel Dace from Bumbee Creek. Right: Fifth grade students from Brown Academy help scientists with the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute release Lake Sturgeon into the Tennessee River from Coolidge Park.
We rescued critically endangered Laurel Dace from drought-plagued streams
As our region withered in a prolonged drought, our biologists sprang into action to prevent the extinction of one of North America’s 10 most-endangered fish: the Laurel Dace, a minnow found only on Walden Ridge. We safely rescued about 300 individuals — the lion’s share left on earth — with most now living in human care at the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute.
We were recognized as a top charity by Candid and Charity Navigator
These highly regarded, independent nonprofit evaluators gave us high marks, with Candid awarding the Aquarium its Gold Seal of Transparency and Charity Navigator certifying us with its highest rating as a four-star charity.
We released 500 state-endangered Lake Sturgeon into the Tennessee River
This batch of river-giants-in-training joined more than 425,000 Lake Sturgeon that have been raised and released by the Aquarium and its partners into the Tennessee and Cumberland River watersheds over the last 24 years.
Left: The Aquarium's newest Macaroni Penguin chick. Right: Green Sea Turtle Oscar enjoys his new summer home.
We hatched a Macaroni Penguin chick
The youngster — now named Lyda Sue — hatched on June 2 from an egg laid in late April by her parents, Bacon and Merlin. She is the Aquarium’s first penguin hatchling since 2021 and the first Macaroni Penguin chick in five years!
We launched The Podcast Aquatic
The o-fish-ial podcast of the Tennesse Aquarium launched in July, just in time for Shark Week. Six episodes were initially planned for the inaugural season, but by the end of the year, 13 biweekly episodes had been released. These offer more than 11 hours of content — enough fish- and turtle-talk to fill a drive from Chattanooga to Baltimore.
We hosted the giant-screen cinema industry’s international conference
About 200 large-format filmmakers, producers, exhibitors, and other industry professionals converged on our IMAX 3D Theater for the Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA)’s annual conference. This was the Aquarium’s fourth time to serve as host for this international event.
We created an outdoor habitat for Oscar the Green Sea Turtle
The “little turtle that could” now has a new way to catch rays during the summer thanks to an outdoor pool where he can reap the many stimulating and healthful benefits of exposure to sunlight. This seasonal extension of his home at our off-site Animal Care Facility was made possible thanks to the generous support of a longtime Aquarium volunteer.
After a years-long hiatus, this educator development program returned with multi-day workshops featuring group discussions and hands-on science tutorials in local waterways. Our biologists and educators worked with a new cohort of teachers from across the region to devise ways to bring freshwater science into their classrooms.
