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Great Lakes Aquarium

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The mission of Great Lakes Aquarium (GLA) is “to engage and inspire, encouraging stewardship of wildlife and water.” GLA is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization.

The Aquarium began as a dream in 1989 when Lake Superior Center incorporated as an organization devoted to freshwater education. Great Lakes Aquarium opened its doors on the Duluth waterfront in 2000 and has been growing and changing ever since. The Aquarium features animals and habitats found within the Great Lakes Basin as well as animals from other freshwater ecosystems such as the Amazon River. It also features global galleries designed to interpret marine (saltwater) animals and habitat. The Aquarium is home to North America’s largest sturgeon touchpool and several marine touchpools.

Great Lakes Aquarium provides on-site and outreach educational programming to learners of all ages. Daily interpretive programs give guests the opportunity to learn more about resident animals while watching them eat, play or interact with our staff. In addition, classes and formal programming engage more than 10,000 pre-K-12 grade students each year. Teacher workshops and visiting speakers provide enriching experiences for adults.


Great Lakes Aquarium strives to provide a welcoming gathering space for all.  We believe every member of our community deserves the opportunity to experience a safe, supportive learning environment in which to reflect, grow, and connect with nature. By building partnerships with local organizations, schools, businesses, and philanthropic supporters, we create enriching experiences that bring people together while deepening their understanding of the Great Lakes region and cultivating empathy for the natural world and its inhabitants. Our dedicated efforts strengthen involvement through complimentary admission days, low-income pricing, ticket donations to community events, outreach programs, and donor initiatives that build lasting relationships, remove barriers to access, and build the financial support necessary to sustain our work. Through these integrated strategies, we ensure that the Aquarium remains a valued, accessible, and resilient resource for the entire community.

Recent donors

Recent donors
Date Name Amount
Oct 12 Anonymous You can do it!!! $27.48
Oct 12 Anonymous $25.00
Oct 12 Anonymous Undisclosed amount
Oct 12 Jonathan Keller $27.48
Oct 12 Benjamin Canine $533.35
Oct 09 Anonymous I think Jay can do this! $150.00