Alabama Aquarium – Connecting People to the Coast

Located on the eastern end of beautiful Dauphin Island, the Alabama Aquarium provides visitors with an opportunity to learn more about the amazing marine ecosystems that are found in our waters. Visitors to this spectacular facility will explore a variety of exhibits featuring over 100 different species of animals. The aquarium is also committed to education, offering a variety of tours and programs for students of all ages. It is the public face of the research done at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, which focuses on improving ocean literacy and promoting wise stewardship of our coastal resources.

Formerly known as the Estuarium, this Dauphin Island attraction has seen an increase in visitors since its opening. Now officially the Alabama Aquarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, the aquarium highlights four key habitats of coastal Alabama – Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, Mobile Bay, Barrier Islands, and Northern Gulf of Mexico. The Alabama Aquarium is home to an incredible array of marine life in a 10,000-square foot Exhibit Hall, a 7,000-gallon Stingray Touch Pool, and a Living Marsh Boardwalk that showcases wetlands common to Mobile Bay.

In addition to the aquarium’s educational and outreach efforts, it is a hub for conservation efforts that support the work of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. This is accomplished through a variety of different programs for students of all ages, including field trips for local schools and community groups, guided tours, summer camps, and more.

Guests will enjoy the Alabama Aquarium through its hands-on exhibits that showcase the state’s four key marine habitats. These include a Lake Tank that mimics the fish species of an Alabama reservoir, a Cypress Forest tank recreating river delta habitats of southern Alabama, and the Bay exhibit showing the brackish water of Mobile Bay.

The aquarium’s mission is to connect people to the coast through beautiful visual and interactive displays that provide a deeper understanding of our ocean ecosystems and how they interact. It will enhance ocean literacy and promote wise stewardship of the Alabama coastline by sharing the wonders of our natural marine resource with all.

A visit to the aquarium is a must when visiting Dauphin Island and its surrounding beaches and parks. Nearby attractions to consider are Historic Fort Morgan, which allows you to explore a Civil War-era fort on the beach and Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, which is a birding hotspot. Other fun things to do include taking a ride on the Mobile Bay Ferry and eating at Reel Deal BBQ & Seafood.