The John G. Shedd Aquarium is one of the largest and most-visited aquariums in the world, welcoming nearly two million guests each year to its historic home on Chicago’s lakefront. Opened in 1930 and a designated National Historic Landmark, Shedd houses more than 32,000 animals across nearly 1,500 species, including belugas, Pacific white-sided dolphins, sea otters, penguins, sharks, and the celebrated Caribbean Reef habitat that has been a centerpiece of the institution for decades.
Shedd’s mission and vision — what President and CEO Bridget Coughlin, Ph.D., describes as a vision of hope and action — frame the aquarium as more than a destination. In addition to animal care, Shedd runs a substantive conservation and animal-rescue program, including its designation by the IUCN Species Survival Commission as a Center for Species Survival: Freshwater, with field projects on freshwater mussels, lake sturgeon, and other imperiled aquatic species. The aquarium is also a leader in eliminating single-use plastics from its operations and in partnering with peer institutions on care, conservation, and welfare standards.
Shedd is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and partners with universities, federal and state agencies, and aquariums around the world to advance aquatic animal care and conservation.
