Key West Aquarium

Key West Aquarium is a historic waterfront aquarium in Mallory Square that has introduced visitors to the marine life of the Florida Keys since opening in 1935. The building was designed as an open-air aquarium, allowing natural light into its displays, and the attraction maintains a strong emphasis on animals and habitats found in the surrounding waters. Its collection includes more than 250 specimens, with fish, sharks, and four species of sea turtles represented.

The aquarium's exhibits include a 50,000-gallon Atlantic Shores display modeled on a Florida Keys mangrove ecosystem, with nurse sharks, tarpon, grouper, jacks, and a sea turtle. Other experiences focus on rays and sharks, sea turtle conservation, invasive species, and the ecology of the Keys, while touch tanks provide hands-on opportunities with marine invertebrates. Guided presentations and feeding demonstrations add interpretation throughout the visit. Its local focus and historic setting make the aquarium particularly suited to travelers who want an introduction to the marine ecosystems surrounding Key West rather than a large collection of distant ocean species.