At 1 Canal St on the Mississippi riverfront, Audubon Aquarium brings together aquatic habitats from the Caribbean, Amazon, Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. Walk through a Caribbean reef tunnel, watch sharks, sea turtles and jellyfish, and look for African penguins and rare white alligators. The neighboring Insectarium shares the building, with a walk-through butterfly garden among its highlights. A stingray touch tank adds an interactive stop for families. Plan around two to three hours if you want to explore both attractions at an unhurried pace.
Aquatic habitats from the Americas
At the foot of Canal Street, beside the Mississippi River and close to the French Quarter, Audubon Aquarium arranges its displays around aquatic regions of the Americas. The route takes you from the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico to Caribbean reef life and the Amazon Rainforest. Freshwater fish, marine animals and tropical species give each area a different feel.
The Gulf exhibit brings sharks, rays and sea turtles into view around a recreation of an offshore oil rig. In the Caribbean gallery, a walk-through tunnel lets you watch reef fish swim overhead and around you. The Amazon section adds a change of scene, with tropical birds among the animals on display. Look for jellyfish and penguins elsewhere in the aquarium, as well as rare white alligators.
The Insectarium and butterfly garden
The Audubon Insectarium is in the same building as the aquarium. Its butterfly garden is designed as a walk-through space, so you can move among butterflies rather than viewing them only through a case. Birds also fly freely in the garden area. The insect displays offer a close look at live insects, and the Bug Appétit counter has served cricket-containing food, including a chocolate cookie. Check what is available during your visit before planning to try a particular item.
The two attractions are presented together, which makes it easy to add the insect exhibits to an aquarium visit. If butterflies are a priority, leave enough time to pause in the garden instead of treating it as a quick pass-through.
Interactive stops and planning your visit
The stingray touch tank gives visitors a chance to reach into the water and touch rays. Staff feed the animals, but visitors do not feed them. You may get a light splash at the pool, so keep that in mind if you are carrying items that should stay dry. Other exhibits include hands-on activities for children, making the aquarium a practical indoor outing for families.
The aquarium opened in 1990 on the Mississippi riverfront. A renovation later brought the Insectarium into the same building and added the butterfly garden, along with changes to the Gulf displays and a walk-through exhibit with wading birds. Allow about two to three hours for a relaxed visit that includes both attractions. Advance ticket purchase is recommended; if you expect to return several times within a year, check whether a membership suits your plans. The aquarium is also within walking distance of the French Quarter.
Preguntas frecuentes
Where is Audubon Aquarium?
It is at 1 Canal St on the Mississippi riverfront in downtown New Orleans, close to the French Quarter.
How long should I allow for a visit?
Plan for about two to three hours to explore the aquarium and Insectarium at a relaxed pace.
Can you touch the stingrays?
Yes. The touch tank lets visitors reach into the water to touch stingrays. Staff feed them; visitors do not.
What can you see at Audubon Aquarium?
Exhibits cover the Mississippi River, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and Amazon. Highlights include a reef tunnel, sharks, sea turtles, jellyfish, penguins and white alligators.
