Perched on a hilltop overlooking the Pacific, this San Diego aquarium has been bridging cutting-edge oceanographic research and public wonder for over 120 years.

Welcome to Birch Aquarium, where the latest discoveries from one of the world's premier oceanographic research centers meet more than 9,000 animals representing over 400 species.

As the public outreach arm of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, this isn't just an aquarium. It's a living laboratory where visitors can experience the same Pacific waters that scientists study just steps away, all while enjoying stunning ocean views from its La Jolla hilltop setting.

From Boathouse to World-Class Aquarium

The story begins in 1903 when the Marine Biological Association of San Diego established a small public aquarium to share their discoveries. What started in a modest boathouse evolved through several moves and expansions, including the 1910 George H. Scripps Memorial Laboratory, now on the National Register of Historic Places.

The 1951 Thomas Wayland Vaughan Aquarium served for four decades before the current facility opened in 1992, made possible by a $6 million gift from the Stephen and Mary Birch Foundation. The transformation from a 19-tank wooden structure to today's 64,157-square-foot facility reflects both the institution's growth and its enduring mission to connect people with ocean science.

A Journey Through Pacific Waters

The newly opened Adam R. Scripps Living Seas Gallery takes visitors on an immersive journey through Pacific habitats. The 70,000-gallon kelp forest habitat teems with life you can watch via the Kelp Cam, while the expanded tropical coral habitat is four times larger than its predecessor.

The Seadragons & Seahorses exhibit showcases Birch Aquarium's world-leading breeding programs. In 2023, staff successfully bred 70 weedy seadragons, a conservation milestone. The Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins waddle through their 18,000-gallon lagoon, while Blue Beach's shark and ray habitat mirrors the sandy floor of nearby La Jolla waters, featuring leopard sharks and diamond stingrays.

Where Research Meets the Public

What sets Birch Aquarium apart is its direct connection to Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Visitors aren't just viewing marine life; they're experiencing the results of ongoing research happening at adjacent facilities. The aquarium houses a rescued loggerhead sea turtle and maintains breeding programs that reduce the need for wild collection.

The Tide-Pool Plaza offers hands-on encounters with local species, with docents providing context about the creatures living in San Diego's coastal waters. From the hilltop location, visitors can look down at Scripps Pier extending into the Pacific, the same pier where scientists conduct daily research, creating a tangible link between observation and discovery.

Birch Aquarium Highlights & Tips

• The Living Seas Gallery Explore the brand-new 2025 exhibit featuring an under-the-pier habitat, Giant Pacific Octopus den, and the massive kelp forest tank viewable through the online Kelp Cam.
• Seahorse Breeding Success Visit the seahorse nursery to see multiple species, including the rare weedy seadragons that Birch Aquarium successfully breeds as part of global conservation efforts.
• Tide-Pool Plaza Touch sea stars, urchins, and anemones in living tide pools while enjoying panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and learning from knowledgeable docents.
• Little Blue Penguins Watch the world's smallest penguin species swim and waddle in their Australian and New Zealand-inspired habitat, complete with an amphitheater for comfortable viewing.
• Plan for Ocean Views The aquarium's hilltop location provides stunning Pacific vistas. Visit on a clear day to see Scripps Pier and the coastline from outdoor viewing areas.
• Explore the Scripps Connection Take time to understand how the aquarium connects to the adjacent research institution. The Star III submersible on display showcases the scientific work happening nearby.
• Check for Special Programs As a research institution's public outreach center, Birch Aquarium frequently offers talks and programs featuring Scripps scientists and current ocean research.
• Visit Blue Beach Don't miss the outdoor Blue Beach area with its 4,500-square-foot bathymetric floor mural showing La Jolla's underwater canyons, plus the outdoor shark and ray habitat.

Birch Aquarium offers something increasingly rare: a direct window into active scientific exploration. Here, the boundary between public aquarium and research institution dissolves, giving visitors access to creatures bred through conservation programs and insights drawn from current oceanographic studies.

Whether you're watching rescued sea turtles swim through the Open Ocean habitat or touching tide-pool creatures while gazing at the Pacific, you're experiencing marine science in action. With over half a million visitors annually and recognition as one of America's best aquariums, Birch Aquarium continues its 120-year mission of sharing ocean wonders with the world.