Mission: To stimulate interest, develop knowledge and inspire stewardship of aquatic environments by providing cultural, recreational and educational experiences through exhibits and programs. The aquarium's diverse collection of more than 10,000 animals, representing more than 600 species of fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and marine mammals, lives in re-created habitats.
Latest accomplishment: Since March, the aquarium's temporary exhibit space has been taken over by 40 species of terrestrial and aquatic venomous animals,including the death adder, gaboon viper, velvet ants and gila monster. "Venom: Striking Beauties" is on display through January 2000.
On the horizon: This fall, the aquarium will open an exhibit that will bring visitors face to face with the diversity of life on the Rio Negro in the Amazon Basin of South America. An expansion of the aquarium's South American Rain Forest, the "Flooded Forest," will re-create a 57-foot cross-section of the Rio Negro.
About the aquarium: Membership: 26,000 households. Attendance: 1.65 million annually. Operating budget: $26 million. Reserve for capital improvement: $40 million.
Where and when: Pier 3, 501 E. Pratt St. Hours: July and August, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. (last entry time) daily. November-February: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday. March-June, September, October: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday. Call 410-576-3800.
Ralph H. Gibson, chairman, board of governors, on the aquarium receiving the National Museum Service Award last September at a White House ceremony: "The award was given in recognition of our many community outreach programs. To be selected as one of three [museums] to receive this award had to be the highlight of the year for us ... at least it was for me."
Members of the board
William H. Carpenter Jr.
Jane W.I. Droppa
David K. Elam
Cecil E. Flamer
Randall M. Griffin
Frank A. Gunther Jr.
Carla D. Hayden
Donald R. Heacock
Bart Herbert Jr.
John K. Hoey
James R. Hyde
Jennifer W. Lambdin
Michael D. Mangan
James C. McBride
Kim I. McCalla
John L. Messmore
A. Carter Middendorf
William D. Norton
B. Dwight Perry
Dana C. Petersen
Donald S. Pettit
David J. Ramsay
Anne R. Riggle
Timothy C. Scheve
Jack E. Steil
Kenneth H. Trout
Howard M. Weiss
Peter S. Welles
Susan J. Williams
David L. Winstead
Gary W. Zimmerman
William Donald Schaefer
James A. Flick Jr.
Lynnette W. Young
Clair Z. Segal
Pub Date: 7/19/98