The History of Oregon Coast Aquarium

The Aquarium's grand opening on May 23, 1992 was heralded by news organizations throughout the state as a landmark event. Nine months later, the facility had already hosted its first million visitors—eight months sooner than projected. Within four years, the Aquarium had become the second most popular attraction in the state and was named by Parade magazine as one of the top 10 aquariums in the country.

In 2007 the Aquarium hosted the temporary exhibit “In Search of Giant Squid” exhibit that featured an actual giant squid beak and suckers, examples of squid prey, squid eggs, and interactive signage that allowed visitors to compare their size to that of a giant squid.

Aquarium attendance continued to climb; up for the third consecutive year as Parents Magazine named the Oregon Coast Aquarium among the best aquariums in the nation in an article titled, “The 10 Best Aquariums for Kids.”

In 2019, the Aquarium announced its $18.2 Million Capital Campaign for Remodel, Renovation and Marine Wildlife Center. SEAPUNK: Powered by Imagination, a temporary steam-punk themed exhibit, opened. The Aquarium and partners hosted “Rise Above Plastic Pollution Day” at the Oregon State Capitol. The Aquarium youth team placed sixth at the National Ocean Sciences Bowl in Washington D.C. The Aquarium and Seniors Advocates for Generational Equity (SAGE) hosted a “Future of Our Oceans” event with Dr. Sylvia Earle. The Aquarium was included in TravelZoo’s “The Best Aquariums in the U.S.”

In 2021, the Aquarium was able to reopen to the public after closures due to the COVID-19 health crisis. The Aquarium joined the Aquarium Conservation Partnership. Cruisin’ the Fossil Coastline, a temporary exhibit based on artist Ray Troll’s book of the same name, was unveiled. A rescued southern sea otter pup, Earle, was welcomed to the Aquarium’s exhibits. The Aquarium received a $5 million grant from the Roundhouse Foundation to support the Aquarium’s capital campaign for remodel, renovation, and development. The Aquarium was also set to receive a $5 million appropriation to support the second phase of the Aquarium’s capital campaign, due to Oregon Senate Bill 5534, which allocates funds from the state’s lottery bonds. The Marcia H. Randall Foundation awarded the Aquarium a $500,000 challenge grant for Phase I of its capital campaign. The Aquarium’s aquarists used innovative methods to apply splints and buoyancy aids to spider crabs with limited mobility. A stranded loggerhead sea turtle was rescued and triaged at the Aquarium, and was then sent to SeaWorld San Diego for further rehabilitation and eventual release. Travel and Leisure included the Aquarium in its “10 Best Aquariums in the U.S.”

May 23, 2022, marked 30 years of supporting marine life and inspiring ocean conservation on Oregon’s central coast. The Oregon Coast Aquarium’s progress would not be possible without the support of our generous donors, members, volunteers, and visitors; thank you for joining us in our mission to inspire ocean conservation.

As OCAq enters its next thirty years, all eyes are on the horizon—the Aquarium will continue to broaden its impact, increasing its ability to engage visitors and serve marine wildlife.

“The Aquarium began as an idea to encourage growth in our coastal communities, and over the last thirty years we’ve done that and so much more,” said OCAq President and CEO Carrie Lewis. “We’ve rehabilitated endangered species, we’ve fostered strong ties with our community partners, and we’ve introduced millions to the splendor of the Oregon coast. The next thirty years are bound to be just as rewarding.”

The Oregon Coast Aquarium continues to inspire ocean conservation. In early 2023, Aquarium mammalogists assisted in a life-saving mission to detangle a stranded fur seal during a field excursion in Washington State. Just a few weeks later, staff announced their progress in developing an effective treatment plan for Sea Star Wasting Syndrome, a deadly set of symptoms that have decimated sea star populations in recent years. And, in an ongoing partnership with the Oregon Kelp Alliance, University of Oregon faculty researchers, and other coastal conservation-focused groups, the Aquarium’s research dive team continues to collect vital data concerning the health of Oregon’s kelp forests. 

2024 marked a long awaited checkpoint in the capital campaign: gallery renovations. This meant not only new tanks and a fresh look, but improving spaces and animal care behind the scenes. Sandy Coast opened first in early May, followed a month later by Rocky Coast. Sandy saw a whole new eelgrass bed and focus of those that lurk in brackish water, while Rocky Coast got a whole new touch pool installed. The giant pacific octopus cave moved indoors, setting up residence in Rocky. Then, later in October the Connected Coasts and brand new Sea Jelly gallery were unveiled, introducing guests to a whole new ecosystem beyond the Oregon Coast. This year also marked the launch of the Puffin Plate fundraiser, with the supported Oregon license plate serving as an ongoing source of funding for the Aquarium's rehab efforts.

2025 marked a new addition to the Aquarium family: Garry the harbor seal! This two year old harbor seal came to the Aquarium. She was less than 2 weeks old when she was found stranded in British Columbia, where she was taken to Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society (VAMMR) for immediate care. Shortly after she was rescued, she had to have both of her eyes removed due to painful and persistent infections. Because of this, she was deemed non-releasable. VAMMR contacted OCAq as they believed the Aquarium would be an ideal home for Garry, knowing that our mammalogists are well-versed in caring for sight-impaired seals. The mammal care team felt Garry would be a welcome addition to the harbor seal family, all of whom receive specialized treatment for vision-related conditions. 2025 also marked the year of the temporary exhibit: Washed Ashore. Washed Ashore focused on plastic pollution in our oceans and waterways and encouraged conservation, all through a collection of giant sea life sculptures.