The Aquarium of the Pacific sits on the downtown Long Beach waterfront and ranks as one of Southern California's most-visited marine institutions, drawing over 1.5 million visitors per year. Opened in 1998, it focuses on the Pacific Ocean in its entirety — from the cold waters of the North Pacific to the tropical regions further south — and organises its exhibits accordingly across three principal galleries and a major expansion wing.
The Three Main Galleries
The aquarium divides its core collection into the Northern Pacific Gallery, the Southern California and Baja Gallery, and the Tropical Pacific Gallery. Each section presents species native to its region: the Northern Pacific Gallery covers animals of the colder Pacific, including species from Alaska and Japan; the Southern California and Baja wing reflects the marine environment immediately off the California coast; and the Tropical Pacific Gallery presents the warmer-water species of the Central and Western Pacific. Together, the three galleries house over 11,000 animals representing approximately 500 species, distributed across more than 100 exhibits, habitats, and theatres.
Pacific Visions Wing
In 2019, the aquarium opened its first major expansion since founding: the Pacific Visions wing, a 29,000-square-foot, two-storey sustainable structure designed by San Francisco-based architecture and design firm EHDD. The wing houses a state-of-the-art immersive theatre, an art gallery, and a culmination gallery with interactive displays, game tables, and live animal exhibits. The expansion was conceived as a forward-looking addition, addressing themes of ocean conservation and the future of the Pacific rather than purely displaying existing collections.
Outdoor Exhibits and Interactive Areas
Beyond the indoor galleries, the aquarium includes several outdoor exhibits that tend to draw strong visitor interest. Shark Lagoon is an interactive outdoor area where visitors can touch certain shark species in shallow pools. The Lorikeet Forest is a walk-through aviary where the birds can land on visitors. A penguin habitat and a horseshoe crab touch lab are also part of the outdoor experience. These hands-on areas are particularly popular with families, and the aquarium is widely regarded as one of the more accessible family-oriented attractions in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
Visiting Practicalities
The aquarium is located at the waterfront in downtown Long Beach, making it straightforward to combine with other waterfront visits, including the nearby Queen Mary. The average visit runs approximately three hours, though visitors attending shows, special events, or educational activities may stay considerably longer. Weekends and public holidays require advance reservations — visitors should check the aquarium's official website for current ticketing requirements, prices, and opening hours before travelling. Combined ticket options with other local attractions, including the Queen Mary and the Los Angeles Zoo, have been available; current packages should be confirmed directly with the aquarium.
Sources: Aquarium of the Pacific - Plan Your Visit • Aquarium of the Pacific - About the Aquarium • Insider's Guide to the Aquarium of the Pacific - Visit Long Beach • Visit Aquarium of the Pacific - Visit California • Pacific Visions wing opening - Aquarium of the Pacific newsroom