Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration

Mystic Aquarium is an aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut. The Aquarium is one of three U.S. facilities holding Steller sea lions and it has one of the largest, outdoor Beluga whale exhibits in the United States. Special exhibits include a ray and shark touch pool, an African penguin exhibit, and a jelly gallery.

In April of 2015, Mystic Aquarium opened a new exhibit titled Exploration: Wild. This 7,000 sq. ft. exhibit takes visitors through the diverse ecosystems of our world including: the Rainforest, the Arctic, the Wetlands, the Open Ocean and the Desert. At the center of this new exhibit are 4 American Alligators.

Mystic Aquarium also features a 4D Theater showing interactive films like Ice Age and Polar Express. It also features a National Geographic Theater running feature films from National Geographic.

The aquarium is a member of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA) and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).