At a quarter of a century years old, the Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center isn’t resting on its pectoral fins. This summer, the Riverhead-based aquatic institution is offering an ocean’s worth of programming to usher in its 25th year entertaining and educating kids and grown-ups alike.
On June 25, the fish-and-mammal mainstay kicked off their 25th season with a birthday party featuring a DJ, free tour boat rides on the Peconic River, giveaways, an art competition, and even a whale-sized cannoli-cream birthday cake, all to officially kick off their celebratory “25 Weeks of Fun” summer promotion.
Thanks to sponsors Bank of America and Stony Brook Children’s Hospital and partner Discover Long Island, the aquarium is offering 25 weeks of family-friendly events and discounts, which include:
- $25 admission days on the 25th of each month (April through September)
- a $25 coupon sheet, worth over $125 in savings
- commemorative swag bags for the first 25 families or groups that visit on the 25th of each month (April through September)
- a $25 discount on the Atlantis Explorer Tour Boat and Snorkel Adventure sessions all summer long
- weekly giveaways both in person and on the Aquarium’s social media platforms
There are also adult-only events on tap this summer, like Atlantis Explorer Tour Boat booze cruises on the Peconic River on July 19, August 23 and September 13, and a Wedding Showcase on August 14.
Much has happened since Atlantis Marine World — the aquarium’s original name — opened on three acres formerly occupied by Riverhead Building Supply. It was the brainchild of James Bissett III, who had the original vision to build the aquarium in the 1990s. Bissett enlisted Joe Yaiullo, a marine scientist and expert from the New York Aquarium, to help him create a plan.
J. Petrocelli Contracting of Ronkonkoma eventually partnered with Bissett and built the aquarium, which debuted on June 15, 2000, as the “first large-scale aquarium to open in New York State in more than 35 years,” according to aquarium executive director Bryan DeLuca.
The aquarium sees about 250,000 visitors per year who come to view the 180,000-gallon shark tank and the 20,000-gallon reef aquarium. Currently, there are over 100 exhibits with several different habitats for sharks, penguins, otters, snow monkeys,
“We are one of three aquariums in the country where you can dive with the sharks,” says DeLuca. Those sharks — sand tiger and nurse sharks — were caught off Freeport and Jones Beach as 3 to 4-foot pups and are now 11 to 12 feet in size. The penguins were originally confiscated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service after being illegally smuggled into the United States through JFK airport in 2005. The aquarium agreed to become the new safe home for the birds, building a holding area for them and eventually adding a permanent habitat suited to their needs.
In 2011, the Sea Star Grand Ballroom and Long Island Exhibition Center opened with a 4,600 square foot “Butterflies & Birds” exhibit and a catering hall for corporate and social events; the 100-room Hyatt Place East End Hotel opened the same year.
The aquarium complex also features the Eye Opener, a six-story “treehouse” complex for kids to climb, a snorkeling exhibit, a marina with a tour boat and a bar and grill on the river.
Home to the nonprofit Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation, the aquarium’s New York Marine Rescue Center program is the only authorized marine mammal and sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation center in New York State.
Through preservation work like this and an assortment of ever-evolving exhibits and activities, the aquarium has become both a nationally and locally acknowledged treasure of marine education. The Wednesday-night fête attracted representatives from local government, including representatives from Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine’s office, as well as Suffolk County Legislator Catherine Stark, who presented DeLuca with a proclamation celebrating the aquarium’s 25-year milestone.
“For 25 years, the Long Island Aquarium has been a cornerstone of Suffolk County’s tourism industry, inspiring visitors from near and far to explore the wonders of marine life,” said Discover Long Island interim president and CEO Mitch Pally. “Its commitment to education, conservation,
The Long Island Aquarium is located at 431 E. Main St., Riverhead, 631-208-9200. For more information on the “25 Weeks of Fun” activities, check their website or follow their social media @LongIslandAquarium on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
