Pine Knoll Shores News
Aquarium Renovation
If you've tried to escape rainy-day "cabin fever" by taking the kids to the Aquarium
this year, you already know that the NC Aquarium is closed for renovations.
Lying just east of Beacon's Reach, the aquarium has been a favorite attraction
for visitors young and old for more than 25 years. But now you can't even get near it, since the access
road is closed off to facilitate construction. So what is going on behind
the barrier, what will it be like when finished, and when will that be?
Work on the Aquarium was supposed to start in 1999, but was delayed due to the reallocation of state funds to cope with billions of dollars in damage to eastern North Carolina from hurricane Floyd. Work was finally begun in early 2004, and it is schedule to reopen to the public in time for the tourist season of 2006.
As of September 2004, the backbone of the centerpiece attraction is taking shape. This is the concrete structure that will support the 306,000 gallon tank, "Living Shipwreck". When completed, this tank will contain wreckage from a 1942 U-boat, as well as sharks and a wide assortment of fish, visible behind a 60 foot window. As you can imagine, building a foundation that can support the 900 tons of water for this tank has been a major design challenge.
The new aquarium will have about 93,000 square feet, compared with 29,000 feet for the old structure. A major attraction is expected to be the addition of a new 50,000 gallon tank containing artifacts from Blackbeard's ship, Queen Anne's Revenge, which was discovered in 1996 sunk in about 15 feet of water near Beaufort Inlet.
While the aquarium is under construction, the staff is making its temporary headquarters in the Atlantic Station shopping center in Atlantic Beach. Classes and demonstrations are still offered, often at the Maritime Museum in Beaufort.
For information on ongoing activities and aquarium progress updates , see www.ncaquariums.com or call (252) 247-4003.
