On July 26 the Aquarium of the Pacific welcomed its 20 millionth visitor, Andrea Chastain from La Mirada, California. Chastain and her family, including Travis Thurmond and kids Devyn and Rylee, were greeted by staff members and the Aquarium’s polar bear and ray mascots, who presented the family with a gift basket from the Pacific Collections gift store, a certificate for an Animal Encounter at the Aquarium, and passes to the 4-D film playing in the Ocean Theater. The family was at the Aquarium to celebrate Rylee’s birthday.
In fifteen years since its opening in 1998, the Aquarium has seen annual attendance grow to 1.5 million visitors. While attendance has grown, the institution has made sustainability a priority. Annual attendance has increased 26 percent while the Aquarium’s carbon footprint has decreased by 20 percent, and water use has decreased by 30 percent.