With the unseasonably warm weather we've had for most of this winter, it's really beginning to feel a lot like Spring. More and more lately, I've been thinking it's time to head down to Port A. for some fishing. The beauty of Port Aransas is the multitude of choices if you're a fisherman. You can choose between fishing the bays, going out on a party boat, doing a charter, fishing from the beach, or just taking advantage of one of the piers and jettys. There's lots of options in Port A!
No matter what kind of fishing I decide upon, there is one part of this excursion that I try never to pass up. Nearby Corpus Christi is home to the Texas State Aquarium, and it's well worth a visit.
Hours of Operation
Open daily 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
(Labor Day through March 1)
Open daily 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
(March 1 through Labor Day)
Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Admission
Members: FREE
Adults (13 years and older): $14.95
Seniors and Military: $13.50
Children (3 to 12 years): $9.95
Children (2 and younger): FREE
Parking: $3.50
Gift Shop/Food Court/Handicapped Accessible
Business Office
Texas State Aquarium
2710 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Corpus Christi Beach, Texas 78402
361.881.1200 or 1.800.477.GULF
Fax: 361.881.1257
www.texasstateaquarium.org
History of TSA
1969
The Junior League of Corpus Christi and the local Jaycees form a coalition creating the Gulf Coast Zoological and Botanical Society whose purpose would be to build the local aquarium.
1975
Members of Leadership Corpus Christi Alumni join in support of the project.
1978
Organization's name changes to the Corpus Christi Aquarium Association to encourage local enthusiasm and support.
1979
Junior League donates $50,000 to launch project.
1983
Building fund increases to over $1 million, led by a $350,000 grant from the Earl C. Sams Foundation in Corpus Christi.
1984
The Brown Foundation of Houston awards a $1.5 million challenge grant to the project.
1985
The Texas State Legislature designates Corpus Christi's proposed aquarium the "Official Aquarium of Texas."
1986
Name changes to Texas State Aquarium Association (TSAA).
TSAA purchases 6.3 Acres of land on the southern tip of Corpus Christi Beach
Local voters approve a $4.4 million bond issue for the improvement of public properties surrounding the site.
1987
A four-phased master plan is initiated. Corpus Christi Downtown Reinvestment Zone invests $10 million and the Housing Finance Corporation Invests $500,000.
1988
A $3 million investment from the Houston Endowment moves the project from the design stage to final plans and ground breaking. Construction begins in September.
1990
The Texas State Aquarium (TSA) opens its Gulf of Mexico Exhibit Building to the public on July 6, 1990.
1993
TSA becomes a federally-permitted animal rehabilitation facility.
1995
TSA becomes accredited with the AZA, American Zoo & Aquarium Association.
TSA celebrates its 5th anniversary with a Willie Nelson Concert.
Education outreach expands with the launching of the mobile exhibit Ocean in Motion.
Turtle Bend opens featuring several of the TSA's rehabilitated sea turtles.
1996
Otter Space opens in Conservation Cove featuring North American River Otters.
TSA receives Mutual of America's Outstanding Public-Private partnership Award for the television show, Wonders Under the Sea.
1997
TSA receives the Munson Aquatic Conservation Exhibitry Award from AZA for Ocean in Motion.
1998
TSA holds first Beach Ball Gala featuring the Beach Boys.
TSA adopts a special exhibit plan and opens Jellies: Floating Phantoms.
Coastal America, a partnership of 13 feder departments and the office of the President, designates TSA as a coastal Ecosystem Learning Center.
1999
TSA presents second special exhibit, Swamp Tales, featuring Roscoe the white alligator.
Interpretive Walkway opens.
2000
TSA opens third special exhibit, Seahorse Seatopia
TSA introduces Dollar Day, a local program designed to increase acessibility to families throughout the City.
Teacher workshops become registered with the State Board for Educator Certification.
2001
TSA breaks ground on Dolphin Bay, the largest expansion since the Grand Opening, with over $10 million in private donations raised.
Stingray Flats and Texas Trails open.
2002
TSA opens fourth special exhibit, Oddysea.
Kids' Port playground opens
Dolphin Bay fundraising reaches $14.7 million and TSA successfully completes the requirements of a $750,000 Kresge challenge grant.
2003
Dolphin Bay opens to rave reviews as the city welcomes "Kimo" and "Sundance."
Environmental Discovery Center opens, featuring an expanded Weston's Library, the Blanche Davis Moore Family Learning Center, and the Flint Hills Resources Distance Learning Studio.
TSA tops off the year with Beach Ball 2003 starring Chicago.
2004
TSA wins the 2004 Conservation and Environmental Stewardship Award for Public Awareness from the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation.
2005
TSA celebrates 15th anniversary year with the opening of its fifth special exhibit, AMAZON.
Two new Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins, "Cobie" and "Shadow", join Dolphin Bay.
2006
TSA introduces newest exhibit, Living Shores,which interprets the Laguna Madre.
"Kai" and "DJ" join "Cobie" and "Shadow" in Dolphin Bay.
"Naiya" the anteater enters AMAZON.
Highest attendance since 1993.
2007
TSA earns accreditation from the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums for Dolphin Bay.
Wild Flight soars at TSA. The first phase of a three-year renovation is complete with the opening of the Hawn Wild Flight Theater.
New otters, Gwen and Odie, make their home at TSA.
TSA begins extensive renovations of sea turtle exhibit.
Exhibits
Travel an aquatic journey from the shore to the depths of the Gulf of Mexico and beyond. Thousands of animals representing over 300 species are found within 700,000 gallons of fun and fascination. Watch sharks and sea turtles live among snapper, tarpon, redfish and grouper in Islands of Steel and then get up close and personal with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in Dolphin Bay. Meet the frisky inhabitants of Otter Space and really get your hands wet in Living Shores! Be mesmerized by the aerial antics of various birds through a free-flight performance featuring hawks, owls, falcons and parrots, and other exotic small mammals in the new Hawn Wild Flight Theater. Catch a dive presentation in Flower Gardens and then dare to enter the mysterious world of the Amazon rainforest where you will encounter poison-dart frogs, fresh-water stingrays and boa constrictors. Immerse yourself in Floating Phantoms and see jellyfish from around the world. With so much to see and do, what are you waiting for?
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