This article is part of an Earth Month series exploring environmental issues, climate initiatives and community stakeholders throughout Providence and Rhode Island.
Smooth dogfish sharks, crabs, seahorses, starfish and clams: all residents of Narragansett Bay and on display at Save The Bay鈥檚 new Hamilton Family Aquarium in downtown Newport. The aquarium, which opened its doors on March 18, exclusively features species found in local waters, and a large majority of the animals on display will return to the Bay after bringing joy to children and adults alike.
Save The Bay is a non-profit organization 鈥渨ith a mission to protect and improve Narragansett Bay and a vision of a Bay that is fully fishable, swimmable and accessible to all,鈥� according to the organization鈥檚 . Their work focuses on education, advocacy and restoration.
The Bay鈥檚 previous aquarium and center on Easton鈥檚 Beach closed in October 2023, according to a . 鈥淔ollowing 17 years of successful operations 鈥� the nonprofit organization sought a larger, less vulnerable location to expand its educational offerings,鈥� reads the press release.
鈥淎 huge part of (Save The Bay鈥檚) mission is education,鈥� said Marissa Scott, aquarium education AmeriCorps member at Save The Bay. 鈥淚n order to get people to care more about the (Narragansett) Bay and 鈥� help, first you need to know what you鈥檙e caring about.鈥�
According to Scott the aquarium supports Save The Bay鈥檚 conservation work by 鈥渂ringing people in (and) showing them the animals that are affected by different issues, giving them that little spark of passion.鈥�
Jessica Daltorio, a visitor at the aquarium who graduated from the University of Rhode Island last year with an animal science degree, highlighted the value of dedicating a space to educate people about the local environment.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to go to the beach and see (the animals) for yourself, but getting education and information along with that is vital,鈥� she said. 鈥淜nowing that they are doing it in a sustainable way is also fantastic.鈥�
Surrounding touch tanks and display cases, the aquarium鈥檚 walls are covered with informational diagrams, photos and interactive tablets where visitors can read about the aquarium鈥檚 animals, the history of Narragansett Bay and the organization鈥檚 broader conservation efforts. The aquarium also features puzzle and craft stations.
The main touch tanks 鈥� labeled 鈥渟andy shores,鈥� 鈥渞ocky shores鈥� and 鈥渟andy bottom鈥� 鈥� feature different animals found in various parts of the Bay. The aquarium also includes 鈥渢ropical travelers,鈥� or 鈥渁nimals swept up by the Gulf Stream,鈥� explained Kady McCain, aquarist apprentice at Save The Bay.
鈥淓verything looks professional, the exhibits are so fancy and really well put together,鈥� said Elsa Gonsiorowski, a visitor at the aquarium. Gonsiorowski and her three-year-old daughter were regular visitors at Save The Bay鈥檚 old aquarium.
Meredith Doherty, an after-school assistant teacher, said her students would 鈥渂e all over鈥� the new aquarium.
Last summer, Doherty鈥檚 students took a field trip to an aquarium two and a half hours away. 鈥淚t was rough,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey were overtired and hungry.鈥� The new Hamilton Family Aquarium solves the issue of travel. Doherty added that the new aquarium is within walking distance from the school.
General admission to the aquarium is $15, with a variety of . Gonsiorowski and her young daughter plan to visit the aquarium frequently. They鈥檇 been visiting the old location 鈥渟ince she was born.鈥�
Gonsiorowski鈥檚 daughter couldn鈥檛 pick a favorite animal or exhibit from her visit to the aquarium. She said she loved 鈥渁ll of it!鈥�
The aquarium is open Thursday through Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Ciara Meyer is a Senior Staff Writer covering the Beyond Brown beat. She is from Saratoga Springs, New York and plans on concentrating in Statistics and English nonfiction. In her free time, she loves scrapbooking and building lego flowers.
