In 2001, Bernie Marcus, co-founder of The Home Depot, envisioned a world-class aquarium as a “thank you” to the city of Atlanta. With a personal gift of $250 million, he transformed a dream into the world’s most ambitious aquatic project.

Photo by Brant Sanderlin / AJC (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) File

Opening its doors on November 23, 2005, the Georgia Aquarium immediately broke records as the largest aquarium in the world. Afetr two decades of wonder, the aquarium continues to grow, having welcomed over 45 million visitors and counting.

Photo by Nadine Marfurt on Unsplash

Discover one of the world’s biggest aquariums, boasting over 11 million gallons of water and holding the title as America’s largest. It houses more than 120,000 animals across hundreds of species, all under one roof. Nestled in downtown Atlanta’s vibrant core, it’s steps from icons like Centennial Olympic Park and World of Coca-Cola, seamlessly slotting into any city adventure.

Photo by Tai’s Captures on Unsplash

The Georgia Aquarium is a leading scientific and educational institution dedicated to global ocean conservation.

Photo by Dsdugan – Own work (Wikipedia)

Each ticket sold helps fund global research and conservation efforts. From rehabilitating stranded sea lion pups in California to protecting manatees in Florida, the aquarium is a first responder for marine life in crisis. Through a 20-year partnership with Georgia Tech, it’s scientists conduct groundbreaking research on whale shark genetics and coral reef restoration.