Shedd Aquarium

The Shedd Aquarium is part of Chicago's Museum Campus (along with the Field Museum and the Adler Planitarium). John G. Shedd, a protege of Marshall Field, gifted the aquarium to the city. It was the first inland aquarium with a permanent salt water fish collection and,at one time, was the largest aquarium in the world. Construction began in November of 1927 and was opened in May of 1930. A custom made railroad train, named the Nautilus, with 20 tank cars, made eight round trip voyages from Key West, Florida, in order to transport the fish and saltwater to Chicago. In 1971, one of the aquarium's most popular exhibits, the 90,000 gallon Caribbean Coral Reef, was added. At the same time, the first research vessel was purchased. By 1987, the Shedd Aquarium was placed on the National Register of Historical places.

The main entrance to the Shed Aquarium sits on the edge of Lake Michigan and is part of the Museum Campus along with the Field Museum and the Adler Planitarium.

The 90,000 gallon Caribbean Coral Reef has been one of the most popular exhibits since 1971.

With the Caribbean Coral Reef at the center of the aquarium, several perpendicular sections (like spokes of a wheel) focus on different aquatic species from around the world, such as the Mountain Horned Dragon from the tropical forests of Cambodia.

The very colorful Garibaldi fish from the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean.

...and the giant spider crab from Japan.

Starfish and eels can be found in coral reefs throughout the world.

Of course, Sharks can be found just about everywhere (including several sightings of Great Whites off of Cape Cod, Massachusetts for the past several summers).

Live shark eggs waiting to hatch in one of the exhibits.

The tiniest and most colorful frogs are also some of the most poisonous of their species.