Niagara Falls Aquarium of Niagara

Opened in 1965, the Aquarium of Niagara the oldest year-round attraction in Niagara Falls – aside from the falls themselves, of course.

The only facility of its kind in western New York, the Aquarium of Niagara sits just outside the Niagara Falls State Park. More than 1,500 aquatic animals representing ecosystems ranging from the Great Lakes to coral reefs are showcased at the attraction.

Every 90 minutes, sea lions perform. Penguin and shark feedings are held daily. Living exhibits feature California Sea Lions, Atlantic Harbor Seals, Peruvian Penguins, Shark Shanty and hundreds of other fresh and saltwater fish and creatures.
According to a recent newspaper article, the aquarium’s newest resident was spared from becoming dinner at a seafood restaurant. A rare yellow lobster – who has that color because of a genetic mutation – now calls the aquarium home. Actually seeing a yellow lobster is unusual. According to a Boston Globe article in 2009, the odds of spotting one in the ocean is 30 million-to-1 because its bright color makes it an easy target for larger creatures.
The yellow lobster displayed at the aquarium was originally delivered to a grocery store in Pittsford, near Rochester. An employee noticed it and the grocery store donated it to the aquarium.
The lobster is just one of the entertaining displays at the aquarium. Here is a list of the feeding schedules and shows:
Penguin Feedings
10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Sea Lion Shows
10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Seal Presentations
11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Shark Feeding
11:30 a.m.

Tidal Pool Feeding
11:30 a.m.

The Aquarium of Niagara is open year-round with the exception of Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

For more information, visit aquariumofniagara.org.
Before or after a trip to the aquarium, visitors can experience the stories of the many daredevils who have challenged the falls and the gorge and see relics from their adventures are showcased, at the new Daredevil Gallery at Niagara IMAX Theatre. The daredevil exhibit features the world’s largest collection of Niagara Falls history, including actual barrels and artifacts along with the engaging stories of Niagara’s heritage and tales of the daredevils.

The natural splendor of Niagara Falls and the dramatic adventures of daredevils of the past are vividly presented in the IMAX movie, “Legends and Daredevils.” The exhilarating film details the remarkable vistas of the raging waters of Niagara Falls and tells the story of when Native peoples Native peoples worshipped the thunder spirits, and when the first European encountered the region.

The movie also introduces viewers to daredevils like the Great Blondin, who completed a death-defying tightrope walk over the river in 1860, and Annie Taylor, a 63-year-old schoolteacher who became the first person to plunge over the falls in a barrel.