Portland Aquarium (Closed) Brand New Portland Aquarium

[snowleopard]

Portland, Oregon, already has a very good zoo and beginning in December the city will also have an aquarium. Technically the facility will be in the city of Milwaukie (a suburb of Portland) and it will be set in an old restaurant!

Portland Aquarium

 

[Ituri]

This facility is being built by the brother of the man responsible for the Idaho Aquarium in Boise, ID. For details on that facility see the ZooChat gallery here: Idaho Aquarium Gallery as well as my review of the facility here http://www.zoochat.com/22/idaho-aquarium-review-262820/

It will be interesting to see if they adopt the "every tanks a touch tank" philosophy that seems to dominate the Idaho Aquarium. Also, as opposed to the Idaho Aquarium, this will be a for profit venture, supposedly because its a lot easier to start a business than a non-profit.
Idaho brothers eye Clackamas County site for potential children's aquarium | OregonLive.com

Also, it would appear they intend to call this the "Oregon Aquarium" rather than the "Portland Aquarium" which to me is unfortunate because it sounds too similar to the splendid AZA accredited institution the "Oregon Coast Aquarium".

 

[snowleopard]

Portland Aquarium opens December 15th to the general public, and from the very basic website it appears that the 10,000 sq. ft. facility will include otters, lorikeets, puffins and juvenile hammerhead sharks.

There has been a long list of brand-new aquariums that have opened in North America during the past two decades (something like 40-50 aquariums in 20 years) which is amazing to think that at least every 6 months a new aquarium opens. Judging from photos of the one in Idaho the Portland Aquarium will be a pleasant diversion at best and immensely underwhelming at worst. Interestingly enough about two hours away is a world-class establishment called Oregon Coast Aquarium.

Portland Aquarium – Grand Opening December 10th Members Only December 15th General Public