Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center


Long Island Aquarium is an aquarium that opened in 2000 on Long Island in Riverhead, New York, United States.
One of its biggest attractions is a coral reef display tank, which is one of the largest all-living coral displays in the Western Hemisphere.

History

Construction on the Aquarium began in 1999, and it opened on June 15, 2000. The Town of Riverhead bought the land in 1995 with the hopes the Okeanos Foundation of Hampton Bays, New York would operate it as part of a rehabilitation project of the Peconic waterfront. However, Okeanos was unable to raise funds. Space has been given in the Aquarium to the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation.
The Aquarium's original cost of $15 million was provided by developers James J. Bissett and Joseph M. Petrocelli. Bissett's family owns the Bissett Nursery in Holtsville, New York. Petrocelli's family owns Petrocelli Construction based in Ronkonkoma, New York, as well as Raphael Vineyard.
On July 1, 2011, it changed its name to Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center after undergoing a $24 million expansion including a brand-new Exhibition Center, a Sea Star Grand Ballroom, as well as construction of a 100-room waterfront Hyatt Place Hotel. The Aquarium also owns and operates a 120-slip marina called Treasure Cove Resort Marina. The Aquarium was featured in the 5th season of The Apprentice.

Exhibits

Indoor exhibits include Amazon Rainforest, American Alligators, Archer Fish, Best Buddies, Birds, Bugs and Butterflies Exhibit, Coral Reef, Cuttlefish, Discus Fish, Electric Eel, Flounder Find, Form & Function, Giant Pacific Octopus, Jellyfish, Local Rocky Shores, Lost City of Atlantis Shark Exhibit, Marmosets, Megalodon Display, Moray Eels, Ocean Creatures of the World/Crab Villa, Piranha, Poseidon's Treasure Room, Puffer Fish, Ray Bay, Sand Shark Lagoon, Schooling Fish, Seahorses, Shipwreck/Artificial Reef, Tidal Marsh, an interactive touch tank and Turtle Bay .
Outdoor exhibits include Ancient Reptile Ruins, Creatures of the Night, Gator Invasion, Koi Pond, Interactive Salt Marsh, Lost Temple of Atlantis, Otter Falls, Penguin Pavilion, Ray Bay, Sea Lion Coliseum, Seals and Critter Corner.
Interactive displays include Interactive Salt Marsh, Arcade, Ray Bay, Sea Lion Kiss, Submarine Simulator, hands on touch tank, and an Interactive Creature Feature