Great Lakes Aquarium Celebrates 25 Years by Unveiling Time Capsule

DULUTH, Minn.– The Great Lakes Aquarium is making history today, as well as reflecting on it, by opening their time capsule from 25 years ago.

The aquarium wasted no time diving into history to reminisce on the time they first opened.

Inside the capsule, guests got to check out the unveiling of numerous news clippings and magazines highlighting the beginning.

There was also VHS tapes and even group pictures of the original board members and staff.

Before the contents were revealed, the Executive Director, who has been with the aquarium since the beginning, commented about how far they’ve come.

“Over those times, you know, in the 25 years, you always have to change. We have to be be able, to be to be nimble, to pivot, to try different ideas. But really, just as we’ve looked at the growth that we’ve had in the last probably about 15 years, it really has come from changing programming, bringing new exhibits, and finding new ways to use the facility as well,” explained Jay Walker, Executive Director at the Great Lakes Aquarium.

One of the visitors checking out the reveal was doing some reflecting of her own.

She got to sign one of the documents included in the capsule and now brought her kids to see the contents.

“It is really cool to be part of it, and to look around and see other people who were here at the same time as us, so long ago, and for them to get to experience something and grow up with something that I didn’t get to grow up with. You know, I was 12 at the time. They’ve grown up with it their entire lives, since they were babies, playing on the floor here,” said Lynsi Passeri, visiting with her children.

The aquarium will continue to celebrate this milestone throughout the week.

You can find the list of events for this celebration here!