Monterey Bay Aquarium

About this place

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a nonprofit public aquarium on Cannery Row in Monterey, California, about 2 km in a straight line north-west of downtown Monterey. It stands on the site of the Hovden Cannery, a sardine cannery that closed in 1973, and its buildings stretch out over the rocky shore of Monterey Bay. Four marine biologists linked to Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station revived the idea of an aquarium here in the late 1970s, and the Packard family set up a foundation that bought the cannery site in 1978. The aquarium opened in October 1984 as the first in the world to show a living kelp forest, and its architecture has been recognised by the American Institute of Architects. The centrepiece is the tall kelp forest tank, where fish glide between the swaying fronds, while the large oval window of the open-sea gallery frames shoals of fish, and softly lit jellyfish tanks show the work its biologists pioneered. Sea otters are a favourite, and outdoor decks look straight over the bay and its tide pools. Entry is paid, and booking ahead is wise, especially at weekends and in summer. Allow at least three hours, and check animal feeding times when you arrive.