America's Oldest Aquarium Is Also Its Most Beautiful (And It's In The Midwest)

Alright, folks, pack your bags and get ready because today's adventure takes you on a wild ride to the Midwest — well, perhaps not wild, but interesting. Detroit, Michigan, is home to Motown, the Pistons, and Ford Motors. It is also surprisingly home to America's oldest public aquarium. The beautiful Belle Isle Aquarium has delighted visitors since its opening in 1904, upon which it was the third-largest aquarium in the world. 

One company by the name of Aquarium Store Depot took it upon themselves to scour the internet searching for the best of the best aquariums across the United States. They sought out reviews through Trip Advisor for over 175 different aquariums, searching for words like 'beautiful,' 'breathtaking,' and 'picturesque'.

Stumbling across Belle Isle, they discovered that 30.7% of visitors who left a review mentioned its beauty. At 121 years old, this beautiful aquarium is also brimming with history. So what's so special about it? How did it outshine 175 other aquariums to come out on top as the 'most beautiful'?

Detroits' own legendary architect — designer of popular structures like the Fisher Building, the Argonaut Building, and Cadillac Place — Albert Kahn was the brains behind the stunning aquarium . The entryway to the beautiful building features elaborate Baroque-style carvings of dolphins and Neptune, the Roman god of water, inviting visitors in to see its gorgeous domed glass Opalite-tile ceiling. The tiles on the ceiling are so uncommon in fact that they cannot be replaced, so great care has been taken by the staff to ensure its maintenance. Kahn designed the interior with these sea-foam green tiles to give visitors the feeling of being underwater. 

Fifty tanks displayed like windows are filled with critters from the oceans and Great Lakes. Kahn was quoted as saying he built the tanks like windows because he wanted the fish to look as though they were art hanging on the wall in a gallery.

Perhaps one of the best-kept and random bits of information regarding this beautiful historical building is its history with prohibition. For some time during the early 1900s, the basement of the aquarium doubled as a speakeasy, inviting visitors to enjoy libations in secret. Today, the Belle Isle Conservancy is working to restore this piece of history to host special events and pay homage to its past.

Today, those interested can visit America's oldest and most beautiful aquarium for free, with a small donation suggested. The staff here have worked hard throughout the many years the aquarium has been operating, and not only on maintaining the architecture. Because what would an aquarium be without its fish?

With over 50 tanks to care for, the team at Belle Isles has worked tirelessly through the years to ensure the tanks are filled with unique animals that represent Michigan's Great Lakes,  as well as other parts of the world. 

The team has also gone to great lengths to make sure all the aquarium's infrastructure is up to date (considering the original piping was from 1904).  Visitors can see creatures like eels, an octopus named Sir Ringo Woodward, many different types of fish, axolotl, and more. The aquarium also offers many educational programs, workshops, and community events focused on providing information about aquatic ecosystems and water conservation. Great for a weekend activity indoors, the aquarium is open from Friday to Sunday from 10AM  to 4PM.