Belle Isle Aquarium

If you're visiting Detroit, the Belle Isle Aquarium is a great quick stop. It’s free to enter, easy to walk through, and has a beautiful vintage charm. It’s not a big aquarium, but it’s interesting. Great for families, couples, or solo travelers looking for something unique on Belle Isle.

We really enjoyed visiting this aquarium and all its creatures. The aquarium is very beautiful. Our favorite creatures were the axolotl and the frogs. Free admission, donations welcomed. Lovely little gift shop stand out in front of the aquarium.

Absolutely beautiful building! I love how it's maintained the historic charm. The QR codes were a huge hit with the kids. Thank you to the volunteers, for sharing knowledge and being kind. Also.... There are some photogenic guys, gals, and other underwater pals. I swear, some were changing up poses! This was our first visit and it definitely won't be the last!!

This Aquarium is a delightful little gem tucked inside a stunning piece of Detroit’s history. It’s small but full of charm, making it the perfect quick stop while exploring Belle Isle. Even better—it’s completely free to enter, which makes it accessible for everyone. (They do suggest donations if you’re able!) What really stands out is the beautiful historic architecture—from the vaulted ceilings to the tiled walls, you can feel the history in every corner. It feels like stepping back in time while surrounded by colorful fish from all over, and new exhibits that are in the works. While the aquarium isn’t huge, the exhibits are thoughtfully arranged and well-maintained. There’s a nice mix of freshwater and saltwater species, and it’s easy to navigate without feeling overwhelmed. Heads up: it can get pretty warm inside, especially on hot days, so bring a handheld fan or a cold drink to stay cool. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, it’s absolutely worth the stop for a peaceful stroll and a glimpse into Detroit’s aquatic and architectural past.

Free entrance, beautiful animals, and well set up to receive a good amount of people. Surprisingly the inside wasn't extremely hot even with a lot of people inside. There's a good amount of parking but make sure to arrive early for closer parking. There's also a few water fountains - always a plus. Overall, very nice, quick aquarium visit.

I am sad to say I have lived within 30 minutes of Belle Isle and Mother's Day was the first time I have visited. It was a little crowded, but that was to be expected. We visited the aquarium and the conservatory and can't wait to go back and explore more of it this summer. The volunteers are awesome, informed and helpful.

The building was very nice, the tile work is awesome. The tanks are very clean, and fish were interesting to learn about. They have a surprising amout of them considering everything is done by volunteer work. Would recommend if looking for a family outing, especially given its free admission

Wonderful aquarium exhibit for the family. So glad we stopped in and made the tour. So well kept up and clean. The emerald green ceiling is a site to see! Pictures do not show the true beauty of the tile work.

I have been wanting to visit the Belle Isle Aquarium since its renovation, so when my boyfriend and I were in town we made it a priority to check it out, and Wow! What a beautiful historic building. Designed by Albert Khan in the Beaux Arts style, it features arched ceilings with sea green tiles for a cool undersea effect. The tanks are designed to look like an art gallery, and indeed the colorful fish do resemble moving pictures. It's not a huge aquarium compared to, say, the Shedd in Chicago, but as someone dealing with chronic pain I appreciate smaller museums, and there are still plenty of fish to see: piranhas, clownfish, eels, rays, an octopus, various fish specific to the Great Lakes, and so on. Despite a lot of merch available regarding axolotls we didn't see one this time. There's no cost to get in, but a donation is requested. There's also a gift shop outside to buy postcards, magnets, books, toys, etc. I definitely recommend the Belle Isle Aquarium to fans of historical architecture, fans of small museums, and fans of fish!

Belle Isle Aquarium is a charming little gem nestled on the beautiful Belle Isle. The aquarium is free to visit, which is a fantastic perk. Getting to the Isle is easy--you can walk on for free or pay a vehicle entrance fee (around $11 when we visited), which is well worth it for the scenic drive and the beauty that awaits. Though the aquarium is small, it has a lot of heart. The historic building adds to its allure, and the exhibits are thoughtfully curated with a variety of aquatic life. It's clear that the staff put a lot of care into maintaining this place, making it a delightful experience for visitors of all ages. The Isle itself is stunning, offering picturesque views and plenty of spots to relax or have a picnic. It's a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Pros: - Free admission to the aquarium - Beautiful and scenic location on Belle Isle - Charming exhibits with a heartfelt touch - Friendly and dedicated staff Cons: - The aquarium is small and can be toured quickly - Vehicle entrance fee to access the island Overall, Belle Isle Aquarium is a delightful place to spend part of your day. It's a quaint and educational experience that adds to the charm of Belle Isle. Highly recommended if you're in the area!

The Belle Isle Aquarium is a gem on Detroit's lovely Belle Isle. Its free unless you count paying to get onto the island. A variety of different types of fish and sea creatures. The volunteers are always very excited and informative. The only con is the size, if you go on a busy day your stuck with many people clamoring around the same tanks and feel rushed at times. All in all, would always come back whenever I'm on Belle Isle

Review from 7/2023 Opened August 18, 1904!!! This is a great free resource! Decided to do some hiking and just ran into this Aquarium. We had no idea it was there; well, I guess we had no idea what was on Belle Isle! There were many kids in the aquarium that day, so it was fogging up many windows to look at the aquatic animals. I was able to talk with the volunteer who worked with the octopus, and it was great learning more about him. I was in awe of some of the fish and their origins. It is worth a stop!

This is the oldest aquarium in the United States! The aquarium opened in 1904, but has been recently renovated to modernize and update the exhibits. Belle Isle Aquarium is small but free to the public, and houses a variety of aquatic life. As you stroll through the beautiful aquarium, you'll see lots of different saltwater and freshwater fish, turtles, frogs, octopus and water snakes, and even axolotls, with docents standing by to answer your questions. We walked through the whole thing in about 20 to 30 minutes. There's a small area with a cart that contains souvenirs to purchase, if you wish. Be aware that the aquarium is only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, even though the island itself is open every day of the week.

I'm surprised by the low-to-average ratings folks gave this aquarium. No, it's not the grandest I've visited, but it is a spectacular free resource to learn about several fish species. It was my second time visiting with my family, and the kiddos loved walking through the aquarium and learning about different types of fish.

For being what it is - no it is not a huge space with 100 different types of displays - no there is no big tanks or viewing points BUT - the historical aspect of the aquarium is adorable - the volunteer employees were all so incredibly nice - the place was very clean - I would absolutely recommend to ANYONE to come here and experience this historic location. Bummed the connecting observatory was closed due to renovations but completely understand.

What a wonderful day to visit one of the oldest aquariums in the country! It felt like a walk in the past, it was presented well and very informative! We really loved how each tank looked like a framed piece of art, like the original creator intended. They are also restoring/supporting endangered species which is helping the planet tremendously! Can't wait to come back when the greenhouse is open May 2024!

When the Detroit friends whom we were visiting for the weekend proposed going to the Belle Isle Aquarium I was not enthusiastic, but it was an excellent choice. A pretty structure on the inside (lovely green tile), this is, we were told (not quite accurately) the oldest public aquarium in the United States (actually the fourth oldest). The creatures are nicely displayed in small tanks, there were a couple of enthusiastic volunteers available to answer questions, and the place was small enough to digest in an hour's time. A system of tags showed where the various species were arrayed on the spectrum running from wifely available to close to extinction. And it is free to the public (this is what earns it my fifth star), although I was pleased to make a donation on the way out. We were there without children but there were plenty running around

The oldest aquarium in the continental US, the beautiful green tiling -- all restored by volunteers *by hand* -- makes for a unique aquatic experience. It's ran by volunteers and admission is free though donations are highly encouraged :) Fun fact, it's the only aquarium with all seven species of gar, who knew?

This is an amazing place to take your friends, and family and makes for a great first date idea too. There is no admission fee and the parking is free too.

This was such a fun family day! The parks around are so beautiful! I would bring something for a picnic after! They also had an ice cream truck outside ! It was fun to walk through took about 1 hr if you took your time. It's free but they take donations. Just beware it's pretty warm because it's the original building! Everyone was super friendly! We are from California so we will be coming back again!

To be a native of this city I can say that I love Belle isle. But the aquarium and all things attached is a site. Especially for the children. My girls loved this place and we also had Indian cuisine and ice cream from a food truck right outside that is apart of the paradise restaurant. It's also FREE yes I said it FREE. The Garden as w

This aquarium has some rare fishes that I never saw. And also this is a free aquarium. This is a small place and well maintained. It can be become crowded but it's fun for kids and adults to visit.

Wow! Never been! Intimate space with a lot to see- on donation only. It gets a bit cramped due to intimate/cozy space. Not a long tour and lots of knowledge and cool fish. Go!

The oldest public aquarium in the united states. The history in and of it self is amazing. The exhibits are low in number, but interesting enough to keep you entertained. The space is very small compared to other aquariums people may be use to. Please do not let that form your opinion of this very cool institution. This really just highlights a lot of local specimens which is cool.

Such a cool historic aquarium that makes a trip to Belle Isle that much better! It is free to enter but donations are appreciated. So pretty in here with the tall green tiled ceilings it almost feels like you are in an old subway station. It's not very big you can walk through this place in 30 min or less. It does feel loud and crowded at times so it's good to come when it's not as busy. There are still some cool fish and sea creatures to see in every tank. Loved the little sea grass eels we saw here. I just wish it were a bit bigger inside even if that means they charge people to visit. Would definitely recommend for a fun and cheap trip to the aquarium.

This aquarium is quite small and you can walk through fairly quickly, but I still think it's worth seeing. The building is beautiful and historic. The electric eels and octopus have long been a favorite for us.

It's a free (aside from whatever you spent to get to the island) aquarium, which is unusual. It's a small place, and it looks quite old, but the wildlife on display is certainly interesting and goes well beyond what you'd find in the Great Lakes. Numerous tropical species, some of them hiding but some quite photogenic, were on hand. Not a place you'll spend a ton of time at, but an interesting stop while on the island.

This place is a part of history and I believe that everyone should come visit here at least once in there life.

For a volunteer-run enterprise, this small historic aquarium is well worth seeing primarily as a reflection of Detroit's attempt to resuscitate the city to its former glory. After over a century of operation, it closed in 2005 only to reopen seven years later under the aegis of a non-profit conservancy. It consists of a single gallery with an arched ceiling covered in green glass tiles. There are about sixty tanks to peruse, but the fish are almost beside the point because there are fancier, state-of-the-art aquariums around. Come for the quaint charm and long history on Belle Isle. Oh and did I mention that admission was free? RELATED - Exploring Detroit? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2Jt7MiE

Designed by Albert Kahn, the OG of Detroit architects and George D. Mason, this is a beautiful building, especially on the inside. The tile work, especially the arched ceiling is just stunning. The price is right, too. This volunteer run institution is free but they do have a donation box and they suggest $5 a head which seems entirely reasonable. Opened in 1904, this was the oldest continuously operating aquarium in North America until it closed in 2005, right before the Super Bowl came to town, something that really stung me. Belle Isle Aquarium has been open again for a few years, but the hours are seriously limited, 10-4 three days a week and they still haven't managed to restock all the tanks. There's several conspicuously empty tanks, boarded over with black plywood to match the lower half of the interior and one filled with garbage and human hazards that pollute the waters as an educational exhibit. The empties are all on the second half of the out and back single room layout, kind of like how a lot of albums are front loaded with the better songs and the filler stuck at the end. None of the tanks are massive so don't expect anything grand like sharks or octopi but there's a decent selection of tiny, small and mid-sized sealife. We visited less than an hour before closing on a Saturday with the kind of beautiful weather that brings people to Belle Isle in droves so the aquarium was pretty packed but we still made it through with time to spare. It's pretty modestly sized but it's a lovely little aquarium with a fair amount of information displayed along with the fishes, frogs and other floaty things. The piranhas are fun to watch, just imagining the terror of being in water infested with them. If you head over to this aquarium definitely pop over to the conservatory next door, a real standout attraction that I frankly enjoy a good deal more than the aquarium. Were it not for the fact that it's volunteer run with a cheap suggested donation, a gorgeous interior and sentimental value I might go three stars here. But I'll give it a Belle Isle bump. If you're already on the island and it's one of those windows where this place is actually open I can't see regretting working this into your itinerary.

While visiting Detroit, make sure to carve out some time to swing by Belle Isle, and to stop in their aquarium. One of the main attractions in the island, it's one you won't want to miss! America's oldest public aquarium, Belle Isle offers a charming historic venue with a large variety of both fresh- and saltwater marine life. The best part is that visiting is free to the public, making a visit there a no-brainer. I visited recently while exploring Belle Isle one weekend, and am so glad that I did. The beautiful structure has a ceiling lined with sea green glass tiles, which was done intentionally to give an "underwater" feel to the place. It is set out in a long room, so you can meander down the right side before turning to see all the tanks on the other side. I happened to be there at 2 PM when they were feeding the stingrays, and it was fun to see the rays and fish chase after a bite to eat. A few tanks down turned out to be one of my favorites with the Piranhas -- while the fish are legendary and terrifying to some, I loved watching them glide through the tank and seeing their scales shimmer like sequins. No matter what time of year, the aquarium is a great historic spot to visit, guaranteeing fun for young and old alike!

For a free museum, it is excellent. Certainly a place to check out when you are at Belle Isle! I read there that it is the oldest Aquarium in the US. We checked it out since my son loves aquariums and was not dissapointed.

This is a great little aquarium! Came here with two of our grown sons, one which has always been interested in biology and marine life. He was enthralled with all the exotic fish and sea life swimming around! It's a small place, but holds your steady attention. There is a very nice variety of strange, beautiful, and exotic fish and sea life. The conservatory next-door is also a great place to go. Both are free, but the aquarium asks for a $5 donation which is definitely well worth it. Both the aquarium and conservatory make for a very nice outing.

Fun aquarium to visit, claims to be the oldest in the country. My brother and I were there in time for the piranha feeding. You definitely don't want to be in their way when they're hungry. Also saw a fish named after my mother-in-law, a Juliefish! (You should expect to see the one named after my father-in-law, as his name is Ray) Not extensively big, but hey it's free and it's entertaining! I didn't know about the Juliefish until I came here. I don't think human Julie knew either or was that impressed. ("She's not even pretty.")

This was an amazing experience. I loved looking at the many different kinds of fish, frogs, eels, etc. My favorite things to see were the stingray, pirahna, and the seahorse. Oh and they also had a nemo and dory tank!!! We learned a lot about different fosh in the ocean. We learn that an electric eel can have a stun power of up to 500 volts. There was signs all over the wall with different facts. We also saw fish that came before men and dinosaurs. The bitchers, sturgeons, bowfins, and gars are all beautiful and interesting. Some of the fish were huge. I loved that this was free. They have a tiny goft shop woth some interesting items, and reasonable prices. I'm a kid at heart, so I grabbed two tiny toys (turtle and sting ray). I love turtles as well.

I finally got to see the inside of this building. I've only seen pictures and heard descriptions from people who's been here. Because every time someone from out of town visits. We come by to show them this place and it's usually closed or we were too late. Anyways, it's one of those fun free things you get to do in the city. Get to learn all of the fishies that are in the great lakes, and also get to see some international fish as well. My favorite was the big fish tank. Where there's this giant Arwana swimming around. That and the piranhas. The inside is really super cute as well. You can tell by the old architecture that it's built to stand the test of time. Plus art deco is so fashionable right now. Definitely a wonderful place to be. If you're not into this kind of thing, or just in the mood to bash this beautiful gem of a place just because there's no shark tank or a tube you can walk into. Please stay home. I'm sure you have a lot better things to do with your time like send a snapchat of your foot to your friends. I definitely enjoyed my experience here. And if you're like me, I'm sure you'll love it as well. Thank you so much for reading my review. I hope this helps with your decision making experience. Enjoy your awesome yelptastic day!

I'm always torn about any place that has live animals in captivation. I'll start of with the good things about this place: 1. The building itself is quite awesome. Old architecture with unique details outside, and a dome interior that is tiled. 2. This place is also free. Wonderful! 3. It's educational. You not only learn about the aquarium and the things that live there, but also information about how humans have been harmful with pollution and trash that end up in the water, affecting water creatures. 4. There's a little gift shop inside where you can get Detroit, belle isle, and other children friendly knick knacks. Now onto the cons. 1. The tanks are extremely small. I felt so bad for the fish in the tank. Some had such long bodies that it was so unfair and heart breaking to see them in such confined spaces 2. The restrooms are at the front of the building which made traffic getting into or out of the building a bit congested. There's another restroom near the parking lot which is much faster. 3. There is a worker that stands near the entrance for donations. It makes you feel obligated to give something which makes me feel weird about that situation. Overall, most people would love this free, educational visit. As someone who hates seeing animals and fish, etc. confined to a small area against their will for the benefit of others, it makes me incredibly sad and frustrated that these things are still allowed.

A personal note- I love this place so much that I volunteer here. One might consider my review biased. A must visit for anyone, be they Detroiters or tourists. The oldest aquarium in North America, with a group of dedicated volunteers working hard to raise it to its former glory. This facility suffered a lot during the Kilpatrick years, but you wouldn't be able to tell it now. The ceiling tiles are original to 1904, recently restored. If the architecture weren't enough, check out the tanks! There are fish native to many parts of the world, as well as educational tanks with invasive species, lake local fish, pollution, etc. ADA access via a ramp on the building's left side. The aquarium can also be rented for special events.

Belle Isle Aquarium claims to be the oldest aquarium in America. And it is still beautiful (all of that glossy green brick tile on the ceiling is why I wanted to see it in person!). But it definitely felt a little dated in a bad way when it came to the enclosures for the fish - very small!! But, still, worth a quick visit if you're exploring Belle Isle, it's worth a visit just for the history alone!

It's free, unairconditioned, pretty, and just big enough. Located next to the conservatory which is also free on Bell isle. Perfect place to bring a picnic and spend the day. Just not when the heat index is 110 like the day we did.

Open for the public. No dress code. I'm not sure if you could bring pets inside. My first time here. I'm into old architectural design. So the old tiles look nice. I've seen live piranhas, seahorses and other interesting species of fish. Can't complain about the place, since admission is free. Feeling generous, there's a donation box for you to drop a few bills or coins. There's an information booth and restroom inside.

Absolutely love that this is free and easy to get to. It is very small and can be walked in 15-20 minutes, but worth it for the history and architecture. Love the green tile, arches, and external facade. Good activity for blending with the conservatory next door (also free!) and food trucks outdoors. They do require masks which I really appreciated, as it was quite crowded on Labor Day weekend.

I wish I could give half stars, as I would say this isn't a 4 star place, but deserves a little more than 3. The aquarium is definitely dated, which I expected (being the age of the place in general). The tile work is really cool though, regardless of age. The overall layout of the aquarium, coupled with the lack of AC, made me feel extremely claustrophobic. The tanks were small, and there were so many Gar, but there were some cooler fish too. I did enjoy the information plaques on the different type of fish in each tank, and I left knowing more than I did when I came in. Being that it's free, I didn't expect much, so I wasn't disappointed, I just wasn't blown away either. It's a cool stop as part of a day at Belle Isle, but I wouldn't make a special trip for it.

Very cute little non profit aquarium on this island. There is volunteer staff that hang around and are pretty educational. Fill with some basic fish species but still pretty entertaining for the little ones.

Well, it's still open, kind of.  This aquarium has come a long way and recently a lot of that distance is down.  It has somehow been taken under the care of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources but the operation of the aquarium itself and the administration of it is not clear. Once home to beneficial and basic science concentrating on the Great Lakes, lakes, benthic systems, riverine systems, ponds and marshes it is now largely a tourist attraction centered around the building itself.  The selection of fish on display are from myriad locations and show only a tiny slice of the wondrous variety of fish and creatures in the Great Lakes basin. Hours are spotty to say the least.  Signage is no longer accurate.  Some of the tanks are empty and decorated in strange ways.  The staff and/or volunteers at the location show up but my experience has been they are generally unfriendly and feel an overly expressed sense of ownership for a community resource that needs to be rejuvenated.  There is plenty of parking but the parking lot is in poor repair.  The Koi Pond remains off limits and poorly maintained.  The adjacent picnic area is maintained poorly so expect to see garbage left behind from whatever party breezed through their last. The most disappointing thing about this location is what happened to the science.  It is a small aquarium and always strained to meet the needs of the community it is serving but at the core of it science was genuinely alive and being practiced by caring professionals who shared their knowledge and made discoveries on a regular basis.  Today's aquarium shows little of that vitality. It's a nice place to visit and look at but I'm not one to have to spend my time imagining what a place used to look like and used to be before it became a shadow of its former self.  Don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed by a visit to this location.   Handicapped access is difficult and offered on the side if it is open.

I have never been to this majestic place, so I had to make it a point to come visit once I got on the island. The aquarium is much smaller than what I expected (both inside and out), but the architectural beauty I think is even better than most of the fish in the aquarium. We went on a Sunday afternoon and boy was it busy and hot. Two lovely volunteers stand in the middle of the aquarium directing people to the right in order to do a counterclockwise stroll of the aquarium. The building outside is beautiful, but inside if a feast for the eyes. The green smooth tiles encompasses the ceiling and are soothing like you are underwater. The stark black tiling around the tanks are a nice contrast to the green tiles on the ceiling. Lots of history is explained and pictures of the aquarium from the past as well and how today the aquarium is going back to its old glory. Okay now onto the fish! Fresh water fish are featured and lots of them are air breathing. Mostly fish are the stars, but there were some cool sting rays, frogs, and chameleons. Lots of tanks were empty and you could tell the aquariums are still in transition. I think we got through the aquarium in about 30-40 minutes. Other facts and what not about Michigan lakes and invasive species. Good educational stuff for young and old alike. There is a cute little gift shop and bathrooms (single stall) for women/men on opposite sides of the building. I know women were complaining of how they should add more bathrooms, but this building is over 100 years old? I doubt they are even allowed to do any additions. The bathrooms itself was even beautiful with the wood paneling and inlay tile floors. My only complaint is the place is hot and could use some fans inside. We also had a tough time finding the aquarium, as we didn't realize it is more centrally located in the park, by the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory. I suggest if you really want to soak up the beauty both of the building and fish then go on a weekday, as it was difficult to enjoy the place with so many other people cramped around inside.

While at Belle Isle Park we stopped at the Aquarium to explore some sea life. Several of the exhibits were not available but there was still a lot to see: alligator fish, stingrays, snapping turtles, frogs and several others. There were many children groups on this particular day so it was very noisy. Its free to visit and they have a nice gift shop.

Our first stop after arriving on the island was the Belle Isle Aquarium. The Aquarium is a single large gallery with a green glass ceiling, which is meant to evoke an underwater feeling. It mostly features freshwater species that are native to the Great Lakes region. Right now, the Aquarium has a very limited collection of fish while volunteers are trying to restore it after it closed in 2005 and reopened in 2012. Despite being a limited collection, we had fun looking at the fish and, my personal favorite, the little snails in the tanks. They have a little gift shop with some cool Detroit items. I picked up a really nice tote bag here for only $20. There is also a bathroom, which is useful because the Conservatory does not have one. The Great Lakes Museum bathroom is closed for renovations, so make sure you go while you're at the Aquarium. Admission is free with the Recreation Pass, but they do operate based off donations so drop in a dollar or two if you can!

Free and you get to learn about fish in the great lakes and around the world. Great place to bring your kids or people visiting. Plus it is on Belle Isle which is great to walk around there and enjoy the skyline of downtown Detroit. Everyone there is super friendly and if you have any questions they can answer for you. The architecture there is amazing and that is another reason to come here.

Free to check out once you are on Belle Isle! Very interesting collection of animals. It's very small and can be completed in 15-20 min max. Bathroom and small gift store present. Runs off of donations! Oldest aquarium in North America. The tiling on the walls is stunning.

This is a very old and quaint aquarium. It will take about 30 minutes to go through. If your in the area and on Belle Isle it is worth a visit. Oh and it's free!

The Hubs and I were at Eastern Market on a cold Saturday morning...since it was sunny we figured we'd swing by Belle Isle and see what was going on today. We stopped in to the Aquarium since it wasn't too busy and WOW!! One of the most beautiful buildings I have ever been in!! Amazing green tiles cover the ceiling, it is so pretty!! Tanks have all sorts of fish, I think they were all fresh water. Huge Koi fish. Enough for the kids to look at and be satsified, but you wont be there all day. This place is a work in progress, but you can tell they are really trying with what little funds they do have.

5 stars for the memories, the incredible Albert Kahn architecture, and they're (volunteers) trying. This one of a kind attraction was closed by zoo director Ron Kagan because it cost too much to keep the oldest aquarium in the US open. (Yes, the same Ron Kagan who lied about having a PhD but Mayor/felon Kilpatrick said that's okay because he was doing a good job). The fish were removed and shipped away before volunteers got involved and tried to open it again but sadly you can't replace what they had. The building itself is worth a look, although many of the tanks are empty; kind of like going to the mall and finding half the storefronts are abandoned and GNC, sneaker stores and trinket kiosks have taken over. Many reviewers mention that the tanks are too small and inhumane, which may be true although I don't see how it's any less humane than the places that capture porpoises and orcas and make them do tricks, but consider it was built 100 years ago. My favorite, since I was a child, is the huge alligator snapping turtle.

Must see attraction for a date.. Family outing.. Just bored on a Sunday.. Anything else.. You need no reason this place is beautiful and it was free to see when we went which was the icing on the cake..

I was in love with this historic aquarium! America's oldest aquarium. The green tile making up the roof is the coolest thing. The whole place was tiled. Some of the tanks weren't occupied but it seemed as if they were somewhat under construction/updating.

I have to say ever since they reopened this place to the public it is amazing. I believe they are only open on the weekends. So be sure to check the website before you get your hopes up and going during the week. The Belle Isle aquarium is located right to the left of the conservatory same parking lot. You walk in and off to the right is a small gift shop that sells a variety of local eclectic items and t-shirts. I believe this is the only gift shop on Belle Isle other than the Dawson Museum which pretty much only sells boat and nautical themed items... SO if you have kids they'll be more interested in shopping this gift shop. I've even took my kids on a Saturday or Sunday and they had live crafts that explained an invasive species. So go on with your bad self go get educated go see some fish! Go see the only Island DETROIT it has to offer. While you're here don't forget to stop at the conservatory, the Nature Museum, Dolsens Museum and make sure you see the fountain! Yes it's up and running :-)

I always really enjoy myself when I come here. It is small and if there are small children running about can be kind of crazy, what with the echo factor of the venue. However, the volunteers are always so helpful and willing to share their knowledge with you. It's small, but pleasant and I especially enjoy the seahorse tank. I like to take my out-of-town friends to this Detroit gem.