Audubon Aquarium

State: Louisiana. Type: aquarium on the Mississippi River in downtown New Orleans, at 1 Canal Street, upper end of Woldenberg Park. Operated by the Audubon Nature Institute (also runs Audubon Zoo and Audubon Insectarium). Originally opened September 1, 1990; reopened June 8, 2023 after a $41 million renovation that merged the Insectarium into the same building. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA); houses roughly 10,000 animals representing about 530 species.

Audubon Aquarium sits on the banks of the Mississippi River near the French Quarter, at the upper end of Woldenberg Park off Canal Street. It first opened in 1990 as the Aquarium of the Americas and, after a major 2023 renovation, now shares its building with the relocated Audubon Insectarium, so a single ticket covers both. The aquarium groups its exhibits by region and habitat, moving visitors from a Caribbean reef tunnel through an Amazon rainforest greenhouse, a Mississippi River gallery, and a large Gulf of Mexico tank. It is run by the nonprofit Audubon Nature Institute, which also operates the Audubon Zoo and other New Orleans nature attractions, and it holds accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The facility's history includes two dramatic setbacks: a 2002 catwalk collapse that dropped visitors into the shark tank (all were rescued), and catastrophic animal losses during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 when power failures knocked out life-support systems for most of the collection. The current building reflects the post-Katrina and post-2023-renovation era of the institute.

Audubon Aquarium is located at 1 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA, on the Mississippi River at the upper end of Woldenberg Park, within easy walking distance of the French Quarter and Jackson Square.

New Orleans has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters; because the aquarium is almost entirely an indoor, climate-controlled facility, weather has limited effect on a visit here beyond the short outdoor walk in Woldenberg Park to reach the entrance.

As an indoor attraction, the aquarium can be visited comfortably year-round; weekday mornings shortly after opening tend to be less crowded than weekend and summer-holiday afternoons, when combined Zoo/Aquarium/Insectarium tickets and French Quarter tourism both peak.

The aquarium opened September 1, 1990, as the Aquarium of the Americas, one of several Audubon Nature Institute facilities built to anchor New Orleans' riverfront redevelopment. In 2002 a catwalk over the shark tank collapsed, dropping about ten visitors into the water; all were safely rescued. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused catastrophic losses when extended power failures shut down life-support systems, killing most of the roughly 10,000 fish then on-site. The facility was rebuilt and continued operating for years afterward, and in 2023 it reopened, on June 8, following a $41 million renovation that relocated the Audubon Insectarium into the same building, so the two attractions are now combined under one roof and one admission.

Visitors walk through a 30-foot Caribbean Reef tunnel surrounded by 132,000 gallons of water with tarpon and angelfish, explore a glass-cylinder Amazon Rainforest exhibit housing macaws, piranhas, anacondas and stingrays, view the Mississippi River Gallery's catfish, paddlefish, owls and a leucistic white alligator, and take in sharks, sea turtles and stingrays in the 400,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico tank. Since the 2023 merger, the same ticket also covers the relocated Audubon Insectarium exhibits in the building.

Key galleries include the Caribbean Reef tunnel, the Amazon Rainforest greenhouse, the Mississippi River Gallery, and the large Gulf of Mexico tank; the Audubon Insectarium's exhibits are now housed in the same building as part of the 2023 renovation.

The aquarium sits in downtown New Orleans at the edge of the French Quarter, walkable from most French Quarter and CBD hotels; Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is the main gateway airport, with rideshare, taxi or airport shuttle service into downtown from there.

Per general Audubon attraction hours found in research, hours run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry 30 minutes before closing; confirm the aquarium's specific current hours on audubonnatureinstitute.org before visiting, since hours can vary by season and day.

As of research, peak general admission for Audubon Nature Institute attractions (Zoo, Aquarium or Insectarium) was listed at $35 for adults and $30 for youth, with a $5 senior (65+) discount; combo tickets covering two attractions saved 25%, and a 3-day pass covering Zoo, Aquarium and Insectarium saved up to 42%. Audubon Insectarium admission is now included with Aquarium admission. Confirm current pricing on audubonnatureinstitute.org, as the official ticket pages could not be directly fetched during this research.

Most visitors plan roughly two to three hours to see the aquarium's main galleries, with more time if also touring the combined Insectarium exhibits.

The aquarium sits at the edge of the French Quarter and the Central Business District, both dense with hotels ranging from historic French Quarter guesthouses to larger convention-style hotels in the CBD, all within easy walking distance or a short rideshare of the riverfront.

The French Quarter and adjacent Warehouse District, both a short walk from the aquarium, offer a dense concentration of New Orleans dining, from casual Cajun and Creole counter-service spots to well-known sit-down restaurants; no specific business names are confirmed here pending a current source.

Woldenberg Park runs along the riverfront right outside the aquarium; Jackson Square and the French Quarter, including St. Louis Cathedral, are a short walk away, and the Audubon Insectarium's exhibits are now inside the same building.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is the primary air gateway to the city; within downtown, the RTA streetcar and bus network and the Canal Street ferry landing are near the aquarium, making it reachable without a car for visitors staying in the French Quarter or CBD.

As with any dense urban downtown, keep valuables secure and stay aware of surroundings walking along the riverfront, especially after dark; inside the aquarium, follow posted staff guidance around exhibit railings and tank edges. For any emergency, dial 911.

A light layer is useful since the aquarium is air-conditioned, and comfortable walking shoes help for the riverfront approach and gallery route; a camera or phone is popular for photographing the reef tunnel and rainforest exhibit.

Buying tickets online in advance is worth considering given the combined Zoo/Aquarium/Insectarium multi-attraction discounts; arriving near opening helps avoid the busiest midday crowds, particularly in summer and around holidays.

Dial 911 for any emergency. A direct general-information phone number for the aquarium could not be confirmed from the sources fetched in this research; visitors should use the contact page at audubonnatureinstitute.org for current phone details.

Audubon Nature Institute (Audubon Aquarium) - https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/aquarium

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.