Tennessee AquariumIF YOU GO• What: Party at the Peaks and River Giants exhibit opening.• When: Exhibit opening, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday; Party at the Peaks, 7-9 p.m.; after-party, 9-11 p.m.• Where: Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St.• Admission: A standard ticket ($25 adults, $15 children 3-12); free for Party at the Peaks activities; $20 for after-party.• Phone: 800-262-0695.• Website: www.tnaqua.org.AQUARIUM INSTITUTE REINTRODUCTIONSLake sturgeonBlue shinerFlame chubTennessee daceWarpaint shinerBarrens topminnowBlotchside logperchConasauga logperchGilt darterTangerine darterOlive darter
When the Tennessee Aquarium’s new River Giants exhibit opens today, its global collection of freshwater megafish marks more than just the 20th anniversary of the aquarium’s first day.
It also forges a new link in the organization’s journey from being just a Chattanooga tourist draw to becoming a major Southeastern conservation force.
But it didn’t exactly start out that way, according to Jackson Andrews, director of husbandry and operations.
“When the aquarium opened it certainly was a tourist draw and an economic engine, but within three years we knew we wanted to do some work in research and conservation. And that’s what we did. We started out very small,” he said.