Dear Friends,
After more than seven years of planning, preparation, and construction, the National Aquarium in Baltimore’s Glass Pavilion opened in stages over the course of the last 12 months. Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extremes debuted on December 16, bringing 2005 to a close on an impressive note.
Pier 3’s Glass Pavilion reshaped the architectural face of downtown Baltimore and accomplished a monumental achievement in building design, engineering, habitat construction, life support, and visitor experience.
Animal Planet Australia signifies the benefits of business partnership. The Aquarium’s collaboration with Discovery Communication’s Animal Planet made this one-of-a-kind intercontinental experience possible. Directly beneath the habitat lies the Aquarium’s thriving new gift emporium, the Aquarium Shop. And the Aquarium Cafe, on the ground level, provides additional dining possibilities.
Our Pier 3 expansion created numerous opportunities to broaden our visitor’s experience throughout the Aquarium campus: the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Waterfront Park; our new Member Entrance, a gift to the Aquarium from the France-Merrick Foundation; the Visitor Welcome Center, a donation by the Blaustein, Rosenberg, and Thalheimer families; the Allegheny Cascades exhibit, a gift to the Aquarium from the Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds; the refurbished Lyn P. Meyerhoff Auditorium; and the River Gorge Overlook from the Hoffberger Foundation.
As if there were not enough happening during 2005, we also built and populated the immensely successful Frogs! A Chorus of Colors exhibit on both levels of Pier 4. This interactive and engrossing exhibit spotlights the amazing and colorful world of amphibians and the importance of protecting frogs and their habitats.
December culminated a year of amazing accomplishment and change throughout the entire Aquarium. The Boards were restructured to reflect contemporary needs; we prepared for a very successful accreditation from our professional organization; staff published numerous articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals; and volunteers provided the Aquarium with services valued at $1.5 million – a record. This year’s annual report allows us to display the spectacular views of the new Glass Pavilion in full color from dramatic angles and unexpected heights; to reflect on the substantial accomplishments of 2005; and to provide heartfelt gratitude to you and the many individuals, groups, government leaders, and corporate partners who support our mission and values.
The All New Aquarium Is You.
David M. Pittenger
Executive Director
Timothy C. Scheve
Chairman of the Board
