Animal Care and Rescue Center Tour
Explore the National Aquarium's state-of-the-art Animal Care and Rescue Center as you travel behind the scenes and talk to expert staff.
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Duration
1 Hour and 30 Minutes
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Occurs
Saturdays
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Price
$45 Per Person
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Ages
8 and Up
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Start Location
ACRC Main Entrance (901 E. Fayette Street)
Overview
Explore the National Aquarium's state-of-the-art Animal Care and Rescue Center—located in historic Jonestown, just a short distance from the Aquarium's main campus—through a one-of-a-kind tour that allows you to travel behind the scenes and discover the unique journeys of our animals once they arrive in our care. Learn about the dedication our staff provides to our animals to ensure they receive the best care possible, discover how National Aquarium Animal Rescue cares for sick and injured marine animals before returning them to their ocean home and peek into our exhibit fabrication shop. This tour will allow you to experience the National Aquarium in a new way and shed light on the most important work we do—caring for the world's aquatic treasures and inspiring others to do the same.
Availability
Animal Care and Rescue Center tours occur weekly and take place on Saturdays at 1:30 pm.
To book your tour, please call Central Reservations at 410-659-4269 (available from 9 am to 4:30 pm, seven days a week).
Members
Member Price: $35 per person
Please book your tour online. Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of your tour.
Questions? Please call Central Reservations at 410-659-4269 (available from 9 am to 4:30 pm, seven days a week).
Important
- All members of the group must be at least 8 years old.
- This tour may have some service animal or wheelchair restrictions; please contact the Tours & Experiences team at 410-576-8822 for more information.
Location and Parking
The Aquarium's Animal Care and Rescue Center is located at:
901 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
Limited parking will be available at the Animal Care and Rescue Center in the lot accessed from High Street for the duration of the program only. Please note that High Street is a one-way street; guests should turn on High Street from Baltimore Street to access parking, which will be available starting 30 minutes prior to tour start time and ending 30 minutes after the end of the tour. To access parking, guests must show tour confirmation number to security upon arrival.
For questions on directions to the Animal Care and Rescue Center or parking, please contact our Central Reservations team at 410-576-3833 or reserve@aqua.org.
Before You Go
Everything you need to know before your tour at the Animal Care and Rescue Center!
Before your tour, please review the following important information:
- Wear closed-toe, non-slip shoes.
- Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of your tour. Check in at the ACRC's Main Entrance, located on Fayette Street. Check-in begins 30 minutes prior to your scheduled tour start time; if you arrive prior to check-in time, you will not be able to enter the ACRC and must wait until a staff member is available to assist you.
- Please note that the Animal Care and Rescue Center is not located at the National Aquarium's main campus. Please report directly to the ACRC, located at 901 E Fayette Street, for your tour.
- You'll be asked to sign a waiver when you get here—save time by bringing a signed copy for each member of your group.
- Limited parking will be available at the Animal Care and Rescue Center in the lot accessed from High Street for the duration of the program only. Parking will be available starting 30 minutes prior to tour start time and ending 30 minutes after the end of the tour. To access parking, guests must show tour confirmation number to security upon arrival.
- When booking your tour, please notify Central Reservations of any guests with special needs.
- Please bring your printed tour confirmation with you to check-in.
- Admittance to the ACRC will not be permitted outside tour check-in time; if arriving late, please call Central Reservations at 410-576-3833 for assistance.
All participants must be at least 8 years of age to participate in this program. All guests under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Participants under the age of 18 must have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian in order to attend. Refunds will not be given for participants who do not meet the age requirements.
Please note: There is no waiting area in the Animal Care and Rescue Center for guests who do not meet the age requirements or are not participating in the tour.
Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable, including if you miss your tour due to late arrival. If the Aquarium cancels your program, you'll have the option to reschedule or receive a full refund.
To ensure that your tour hasn't been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances such as animal health or inclement weather, please call 410-576-8822 the day of your program for cancellation information.
Please note that this tour typically requires a minimum of three participants. If your tour is canceled due to low sign-ups, we will notify you the day before your scheduled date and offer you the chance to reschedule or receive a full refund.
All aspects of this tour are subject to availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question about your tour at the Animal Care and Rescue Center? We've probably answered it here!
Yes! The Animal Care and Rescue Center is a behind-the-scenes, working facility where staff cares for the National Aquarium's newly admitted animals and animals that are off exhibit, build Aquarium habitats and care for rescue animals.
A paid parent or guardian must accompany all participants under the age of 16. Minors 16 years of age or older may participate with a signed waiver from a parent or guardian. Parents or guardians accompanying children must be at least 18 years old. For example, a 17-year-old may attend a tour with a signed waiver, but their 10-year-old sibling may not accompany them without an adult.
No. The Animal Care and Rescue Center is a facility where animals are adjusting to their habitat and may be recovering from illness or injury. As a result, guests are not allowed to touch or handle the animals on this tour.
You'll be traveling behind the scenes, so closed-toe, non-slip shoes are required. That means no Crocs, sandals, flip-flops or high heels. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing.
No. This tour takes place at the Animal Care and Rescue Center, which is separate from the Aquarium's main building. As a result, admission is not included in the experience.
No. The Animal Care and Rescue Center is a working quarantine and rescue facility. As a result, the building is not open to guests outside of guided tours. Guests may only explore the Animal Care and Rescue Center during their guided tour experience.
Limited parking will be available at the Animal Care and Rescue Center in the lot accessed from High Street for the duration of the program only. Parking will be available starting 30 minutes prior to tour start time and ending 30 minutes after the end of the tour. To access parking, guests must show tour confirmation number to security upon arrival.
Parking at the Animal Care and Rescue Center is limited to guests who are participating in the tour and is not available outside of scheduled tour times. This parking lot is not available for all-day parking and guests visiting the Aquarium or exploring other Baltimore attractions on the same day are required to relocate their vehicle.
Lockers will be provided for tour guests to store their belongings during their tour. There is limited space, so please only bring necessary items with you.
The National Aquarium does not provide transportation to and from the Animal Care and Rescue Center. Guests wishing to visit both the Aquarium and the Animal Care and Rescue Center will need to provide their own transportation between the buildings.