Interactive Exhibits and Rare Finds: Maine State Aquarium Returns

Photo byBiljana MartinićonUnsplash

A New Chapter for Maine’s Beloved Aquarium

BOOTHBAY HARBOR — Aquatic enthusiasts from across the country are making the newly reopened Maine State Aquarium a top destination on their treks across Vacationland. After a four-year hiatus, the 31-year-old program reopened to the public on June 27, and attendance has been fantastic, chaotic, and loads of fun, according to aquarium staff.

Welcoming the Public Back

The aquarium’s open days run Wednesday to Sunday, and with school out for summer, there is almost always a long line of people waiting for the doors to open. Upon entering the large, one-room space, visitors are immediately greeted by the commanding sight of a full skeleton of a minke whale suspended from the ceiling. Beneath the behemoth’s bones are two 1,300-gallon tanks containing live species native to the Gulf of Maine, including lumpfish, colorful anemones, starfish, horseshoe crabs, and a trio of rare-colored lobsters: blue, yellow, and “cotton candy.”

Hands-On Fun for All Ages

The famed Maine State Aquarium touch tank has returned as a 300-gallon hands-on experience modeled after the tide pools of Burnt Island off the coast of Boothbay Harbor. Visitors, young and old, can touch starfish, horseshoe crabs, hermit crabs, sea snails, and sea cucumbers with guidance from museum staff. Kids can also learn to band lobster claws and haul lobster traps by hand on the model fishing vessel “Lawbstah,” a fan favorite.

Boothbay native Rachel Abrahams, who returned to Maine from Memphis, Tennessee, with her children, Wesley, 2, and Reagan, 4, was pleasantly surprised to find the aquarium open during their visit. “We were thrilled to hear the aquarium was back open,” Abrahams said. Wesley and Reagan were particularly fond of banding lobsters and gawking at Elvis, the blue lobster. “And anything they can put their hands on,” Abrahams added.

New and Updated Exhibits

Though the exhibits are fresh and new, the newest addition is the Research Spotlight area, featuring interactive touchscreens that showcase species from the Gulf of Maine and the Maine Department of Marine Resources’ (DMR) research. The DMR runs the museum, and its education director, Dottie Yunger, explained the extensive renovations required before reopening. “It needed new floors, new walls, new electrical wiring… There were supply chain issues. Trying to do all of that as we were coming out of a pandemic — nobody was expecting to need to do those renovations, let alone the extent of them,” Yunger said.

Overcoming Challenges

The project took about a year and consumed most of the aquarium’s budget. In 2023, an additional $850,000 was secured to add new exhibits. This funding allowed staff to expand the museum’s scope, but it also delayed the reopening. “It has been a big relief to be able to open this year because we know how popular the aquarium is,” Yunger said.

Community and Research Integration

The aquarium has not only reopened but has also expanded its offerings. The former Discovery Center, now called the Learning Lab, is undergoing renovations and will soon serve as a marine science classroom. The inaugural exhibit will feature sharks native to the Gulf of Maine, with interactive elements led by DMR’s shark biologist.

Staff members, including summer intern Emma McCaffrey, have been integral to the aquarium’s reopening success. McCaffrey, a sophomore at the University of Maine at Orono, demonstrated the touch tank to visitors, sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm for marine life.

A Resource for All

The aquarium’s new exhibits, like the Research Spotlight interactive panels, allow visitors to explore 100 years of data on the Gulf of Maine’s temperature and acidification. Ella Wiegman, a current university student, focuses her research on moon jellyfish and their response to the gulf’s warming waters. “The Gulf of Maine is one of the fastest-warming bodies of water,” Wiegman explained. This data is now accessible to the public, providing valuable insights into the region’s marine life and habitats.

Yunger highlighted the importance of this information for both locals and visitors. “The interactive climate wheel shows the water temperature in the harbor, which has been collected at this site since 1905… That information sort of puts into context how DMR is managing marine resources during a time when waters are warming here faster than 99% of waters anywhere else,” she said.

The Maine State Aquarium’s reopening has brought joy and educational opportunities to Boothbay Harbor, making it a must-visit destination for aquatic fans and curious minds alike.

Attribution source: Sunjournal.com