Remember the old National Aquarium in the basement of Commerce?

[mchambers]

John Kelly in the Post wrote about it recently, for those of you who remember, and those of you who are curious:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/loca...cbe2af58c3a_story.html?utm_term=.1df35964621e

Matt

 

[littlen]

That was a nice write up. The place definitely had character and history. There were a lot of negative reviews by folks who had no appreciation for what is was and what it had been through. (And were likely spoiled by newer facilities like NAiB). I have some great video walk-throughs of the entire facility, including back-of-house, just before closing to the public. Then the same series of videos about 4 months later after we emptied out the place and left for the last time. I could figure out how to post them on YouTube if anyone is interested in a stroll down memory lane or wants to ‘visit’ for the first time. Very special time and place in my life.

 

[FishEggs]

That was a nice write up. The place definitely had character and history. There were a lot of negative reviews by folks who had no appreciation for what is was and what it had been through. (And were likely spoiled by newer facilities like NAiB). I have some great video walk-throughs of the entire facility, including back-of-house, just before closing to the public. Then the same series of videos about 4 months later after we emptied out the place and left for the last time. I could figure out how to post them on YouTube if anyone is interested in a stroll down memory lane or wants to ‘visit’ for the first time. Very special time and place in my life.

I'd be interested in watching the video. Unfortunately I didn't know about them until the write up about it closing so I never got the chance to go.

 

[littlen]

I'll update this thread once I have the videos loaded....although you may find that many water changes have come and gone while you wait.

 

[b considine]

When I first worked in DC, I'd swing by now and again. It was a hidden gem, despite its somewhat run-down look.

Blaise

 

[lizardboy]

I used to drag my parents down there all the time when it was open.

 

[littlen]

Here are a few pictures of a renovation my boss and I did on "Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary". It was originally two, separate, 1,000 gallon exhibits. We took the 8" concrete wall down that divided the two. (The 'rockwork' I'm working on, and the white PVC tube are covering the remains of the old wall.) The concrete was covered in epoxy paint. The green FRP was covered with PolyGem 307--a 2 part epoxy that could be worked like clay. The exhibit design was simulating the hull of a freighter that sunk [due to a boiler explosion].

 

[xny89]

My son interned there when in high school.

 

[Fishn']

That place is what got me into aquariums as a kid.