Woods Hole Science Aquarium

Super fun free aquarium. Has a reasonable selection of different fish and sea creatures on display. They even have a shallow tank where you can gently touch some sea creatures. Apparently they have a seal too but I did not see it out when I visited. Note that there is no parking and street parking can be hard to come by. But it is fairly inexpensive at $1/hr up to 3 hrs.

Woods Hole Scientific Aquarium is the oldest public aquarium in the United States Established in 1875. It's a fun little aquarium for the kids. Free or make a donation

Wonderful historic little aquarium for an hour or so in quant woods hole. Don't miss the tanks upstairs where you can see "behind the scenes"

This place was awesome! I took my 2 year old and she absolutely loved it. They have fish that I’ve never seen before. It’s free admission and lots to look at!

Nice little aquarium in the heart of Woods Hole. Took our grandchildren here and they loved it. Especially the tanks with the octopus in them. It is pretty small but they only ask for a donation rather than an admission price. Be warned, parking in Woods Hole is pretty rough and the streets are small.

Free self guided aquarium with a lot of information and a wide variety of animals. Also has a seal enclosure and behind the scenes access to learn how the aquarium runs

Last year we went no problems. This year, an older woman at the front desk ruined our experience. My mother is a diabetic and has a service animal And because the dog is small, she questioned us even rolling her eyes. I understand asking if it's a service animal but saying "don't tell me that's a service animal" and proceeding to question it even after the reason was given is a problem. By law you are not allowed to ask for more then the reason for the service animal

So perfect for my almost-3-year-old twins. They really enjoyed all the fish and it was small enough to hold their attention through the whole thing. No strollers inside and parking is difficult to find since it’s all street parking but we really enjoyed the quick visit.

Did you know Woods Hole Scientific Aquarium is the oldest public aquarium in the United States? WHSA was established back in 1875. It's small, but home to some impressive sea creatures. The octopus took my attention the most. Fun place to take the kids and adults too. You will learn a bit about this famous fishing village as well.

I don't know how long it's been since I last visited the Woods Hole Science Aquarium, but let's just say I was probably shorter, louder, and way more fascinated by the gift shop than the science. Coming back as an adult? Total 180. This place still has all the charm I remember but now I actually read the signs and don't try to touch the crab molts (okay, I thought about it). Walking through the doors felt like flipping through an old chapter of my childhood. The tanks are mesmerizing from massive striped fish gliding with attitude to the sassy little octopus who clearly runs the place (yes, Ink, I see you). And the horseshoe crab display? Wild. Creepy in the best way. There's a quiet reverence here like science and sea life are having a conversation and you've been invited to eavesdrop. The historic exhibits honoring NOAA crews, marine research, and the legacy of Woods Hole remind you that this isn't just an aquarium it's a cornerstone of discovery. It's not flashy or high-tech, and that's part of the magic. It's real, local, and grounded in education and conservation. Also, it's FREE (but toss them a donation they're doing good work here). Coming back after all these years reminded me how much I still love learning about the ocean and how lucky we are to have this spot tucked right into Cape Cod. #WoodsHoleScienceAquarium #CapeCodExploring #OctopusBoss #MarineMagic #FalmouthFavorites #ItsTheLittleThings #PuddingCreekTrestle #LocalScience #SealYouLater #BackToMyRoots

Awesome place! We spent the afternoon in the area. Would go back again. Went around the block several times to get a parking spot.

It's hard to entertain kids on a rainy day so what a delight this aquarium is free. There are several different tanks with fish, starfish and octopus. There is an outside area with a seal which is also nice.

Bottom Line: A small but wonderful donation-based aquarium. Woods Hole has the clearest aquarium tanks I have ever seen and I really enjoyed being able to see local fish and sea creatures up close. As a bonus, the aquarium allows visitors to go "behind the scenes" and see the room from which they maintain the tanks. Of course that working space was also pristine and I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by that. Woods Hole is a world class institution and is home to the oldest aquarium in the country. Outside visitors are welcomed by Bubba the harbor seal. After entering the building there is a visitor log and it's requires that all visitors sign in. The aquarium is donation based and there is a box to make a donation.

It was very crowded with children and their families so we did not stay long at the tanks. But we spent some time in the historical displays this trip. Bring kids if they love the fish displays.

This place is amazing. Got here during feeding time and Katie was absolutely the best. She was extremely knowledgeable and very patient answering all the kids questions. It is a quick fun thing to do to learn all about the fish and aquatic life in the area. The place is clean and the fish as so well taken care of! We will definitely be back as long as Katie is still working here.

Was this the best aquarium we've been to? Absolutely not. But my 5 star review comes from the perspective of absolutely nothing being free anymore and therefore, 5 stars for this place! The fish tanks were beautiful and clean, and had lots of things to look at. There's a seal on the way out, my only disappointment was that the hands on touch tanks were closed during our visit-- I know my daughter would have loved that part the most. It's a great option for a rainy day on vacation when you've already spent enough money on your trip :) The parking can be rough, we had to circle around the town a few times to find street parking (they do accept cards at their meters). It's very small and will take maybe 20 mins; 30 mins tops if you really take your time. Overall, a great free option to bring the kids to!

Interesting find! We had no idea what to expect when we realized there was no ticket price to enter (donation only) but boy were we pleasantly surprised! The aquariums were immaculate and stocked with the most unique creatures! Things I have never, ever seen before! The aquarium is filled with COOLNESS! Be sure to leave a nice donation before you exit the building! Well deserved!!

This aquarium is an absolute hidden gem! I have been to aquariums all over North America, you kind of know what to expect, even though some are certainly better than others. So after seeing some of the most amazing aquariums in the world, why would I give the Woods Hole Science Aquarium five stars? Two reasons, they have totally unique exhibits that I have never seen anywhere and they make the best use of what space they have! Being a lover of aquariums I would have gone here even if they charged for it, but it is donation only. There is only a small lot for handicapped vehicles, but plenty of street parking available. I cannot begin to describe all of the fish that are here, and so many that I have never seen. I was truly blown away! I absolutely loved visiting here and believe that this is a must see for anyone going to the cape! Be sure to throw them a good donation so that they can keep up the awesome work that they do!!!

Small but very engaging aquarium in Woods Hole. There is a wall of aquariums including rays, grouper, lobster and more, and across from the aquariums is a display wall with various different displays meant to be touched and interactive. Our 10 year old twins spent a LOT of time here and were very engaged! Sometimes there is a seal in the patio tank and there was when we visited so seeing them swim around is fun too! Five stars for keeping my kids engaged and being well-executed.

Never got into the place because Woods Hole has 25 street parking spaces. Thats it. Ao get there early to get a space otherwise you're SOL. Hey Woods Hole... build a parking garage!!!! How does a tourist attraction not have F'ing parking!!!!

A small aquarium great for families with young children. The second floor was closed when we were there but they still had several tanks with a good assortment of fish on the first floor. Admission is free (they accept gifts) and they are open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 to 4. Staff was super friendly.

Small but shockingly interesting! All the tanks had a good variety in them and everything looked healthy. It's definitely not a day trip ( only about 30 minutes to walk through) I'm happy I went.

Built in 1885, WHSA is the oldest aquarium in the US and surprisingly has free admission. It's nice to know that effort is still being done by Woods Hole to raise public awareness of marine life and species that are becoming endangered despite racking in no profit from admission. Granted because of free admission and the age of the aquarium, it's small and nothing overly fancy. The most low key aquarium I've visited, but everyone is still intrigued by the marine life they feature--ie. salmon, large garoupa looking fishes, horseshoe crabs, etc. C'mon who doesn't love the sight of animals? Some windows of the aquarium glass shows fogging and signs of a much needed tank clean but you forgive them given that this educational establishment is still running with only funding from the federal government. Coolest thing was the 2 finger touch tank in the back. Star fishes, shell fishes, and small crabs roamed around with little kids smiling in wonder and delight.

The village of Woods Hole hosts NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, which operates the Woods Hole Science Aquarium. It is a perfect indoor outing on a rainy day in Cape Cod. Maybe it's the quaint seaside town that makes the aquarium that much cuter and proportional for this little haven, which also happens to be home to the ferry service to Martha's Vineyard. WHSA might be tiny, but it packs a lot of exhibits and animals in that space, yet not too crowded. Don't expect high-flying dolphin shows or walk through shark tanks. It is a showcase to the public for the research they do and it's been here for over 130 years as the oldest aquarium in the USA. Before you enter the facility, you are greeted at the outdoor pool by a pair of the resident harbor seals. Luseal was orphaned on a Cape Cod beach, while Bumper was attacked by a shark and is now blind. They are rescues and cannot be returned to the wild, so they make WHSA their home. There are many eastern seaboard marine life represented here, from the common North Atlantic Cod & Striped Sea Bass to the more exotic Triggerfish and Scorpionfish. And you can't miss out on seeing the famous Blue Lobster (a 1 in 2 million mutation). There is even a hands-on tank where the kids can touch & feel starfish, spidercrabs and whelks. 2 fingers only, please! Unlike other aquariums and probably because of the limited size, you get to see behind the scenes by going up behind and above the tanks to the work area where the scientists and researchers feed and care for the animals. While we were, a research assistant took out a lumpfish, which she said was not doing well and they had to take some X-rays. Above all else, WHSA is a research, education and conservation facility. It is government run, funded by your tax dollars and there is no admission fee. But if you appreciate what they do here, you can donate generously to their programs.

Small but cute little aquarium right on the Woods Hole campus. Small room of cases to view in the first room, and then you can walk behind to get a more behind-the-scenes deal for the whole thing. Touch me tank, lots of interesting facts about the fish and other aquatic life around, very enjoyable. The place is very small but there's a nice variety and you can get through the whole place during a lunch break quite easily. Well worth a visit - and free!

Lots of history, good information about local fishing and fish, kinda small two story building 1st floor has all the views of fish in aquariums second floor is where you can touch a few fish but predominately just the tops of tanks so fish can be fed. Placks on walls are educational. Good place to take kids. Information desk very helpful, bathrooms clean.

The oldest aquarium in the United States The Woods Hole Science Aquarium was founded in 1885 by Spencer Baird as a research station and place where the public could learn about and become acquainted with the local sea creatures. It's being doing exactly that ever since. Woods Hole is one of the leading centers of environmental studies and oceanography and has several huge research and marine biological laboratories located within the small confines of the town. This is a place where numerous contributions to the field have taken place and future discover will undoubtedly happen. This aquarium is definitely not a zoo. It's part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and there is no admission charge although donations are of course accepted. You can wander around by yourself and go behind the exhibits and observe and talk to the staff feeding or cleaning the containers. Lots of fish to look at and displays explaining the ecology and history of the area are everywhere. Very casual and relaxed in the off season although during the summer thousands of hyper active kids assault and lay siege to the building. The emphasize here is not just to show the animal but to protect them. The seals are non-release critters that are either ill or for some other reason can't survive on they own. They also "rehabilitate" cold stunned turtles, fish and crustaceans that have being injured and need a bit of TLC before going back into their natural habitat. They have several volunteer groups, including one that goes looking for stranded whales or other sea mammals. A very interesting and cool place for anyone fascinated with the sea and it's creatures.. Lots of stuff to learn and be amazed at. Most countries and companies seem determined to do their best to pollute and destroy the viability of the oceans to sustain life. Facilities like this do their part to ensure that will never happen.

Pros: It is FREE Cons: Street parking can be pain. Bring quarters for the meters. This is a small cute aquarium with 2 floors. We spent about 30 min here. They have lots of local species of fish, crabs etc. My favorite was the blue lobster! Blue lobsters are rare. Only 1 in 2 million lobsters are blue. There is a small touch tank upstairs, where you can touch star fish, some fishes and crabs. This is a great place for families, as well as anybody of any age. I will be back to see my friend, the blue lobster.

By no stretch of imagination is this aquarium like major aquariums in the area, but the Woods Hole aquarium has been one of my favorites since a young age. This research driven aquarium always has a great selection of sea creatures and I love watching the seals swim around and play. They now have two permanent seals, one who is blind and the other who struggles to care for herself. Overall, if you are in the area drop by. On top of that, make sure to throw in a donation. All proceeds go to funding the aquarium.

America's oldest aquarium. This is an intimate public aquarium filled with fun friends from under the sea. It's nice to meet the sea life out beyond our New England coast. They even have a blue lobster! Free admission and limited hours so please check their website. It's a pretty small place and I've only visited in the off-season and during Christmas break, so I don't know how they operate in the summer with all of the tourists. http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/nefsc/aquarium/index.html

Went to the NOAA run Woods Hole Science Aquarium, before heading back toward Boston, to check out the blue lobster; only to find out that it had died last year. However there was an exhibit that really fascinated me: the Chain Dogfish egg sacs. You can see the developing pups wiggling around in them...like little aliens. Very very cool. We learned about the endangered wild Atlantic salmon and the endangered whales. I also got to touch and feel the baleen from a fin whale, a right whale and a minke whale. Listened to sounds that seals and cod make in the water. Watch the 2 rescued harbor seals play. There's also a 2-finger touch tank, that's great for kids to know what it feels like to touch these creatures: whelk, spider crab, starfishes, tautog etc., on the second floor. Warning: It's a small aquarium but my hubby had to go out and to put more money in the parking meter twice. When it's fun, time flies! Please make a donation to keep this place running for all to see. Absolutely one of my favorite things to do at the Cape.

The WHOI/NOAA aquarium in the small seaside town of Woods Hole is the oldest in the country- so in a sense, it's a vintage kind of place. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. It's a small place filled with tons of fish, so you get to see what it's like under the sea- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC_mV1IpjWA and there's a touch tank for the kids. They have Atlantic salmon (how do they differ from the Pacific kind?) They have puffer fish, lobsters, and since this is legalistic Massachusetts, yes, there is a type of fish called a permit. Twice daily, they feed the seals do a little show. It gets crowded, fast. Pro-tip: At certain times of the year, be prepared for the crowds.

Oldest aquarium in the US + free attendance Check out this nice small and quaint aquarium. It is small, but they have a nice assortment of interesting marine life for you to check out. They also have seals in the outdoor pool. Did I say it was free?

This place is a wonderful educational and fun place to visit! The place is full of awesome marine life and is the only aquarium I have ever visited where you can go "behind the scenes" and see how the tanks work. The staff is always very friendly and knowledgeable, willing to answer any questions you may have. They recently got a facelift that I think deserves some attention! All the signs throughout the aquarium were redesigned to be prettier and easier to read. They are still doing s few thugs around but it already looks great! Definitely recommend this is you're in the area!!

Drop in to the small, Woods Hole Science Aquarium to see seals and explore the touch tanks. Home to more than 140 species, admission is free! The oldest aquarium in the United States, this place was designed for kids with a great seal feeding experience and the opportunity to get behind the tanks and see how the fish are cared for. Don't forget to take a look at the seals playing in their outdoor pool! FYI - Open 11am-4pm Tuesday thru Saturday, year-round! - Seal feedings are at 11am and 4 PM

This is a hidden gem. Located on the water in Wood's Hole, this little aquarium is the home to several exotic fish, a hands-on petting pond, and two adorable harbor seals. Best of all, it is free! Even better than best of all is that there is free parking right around the corner! Don't get any ideas are try to park here for the day while catching a ride on the ferry, because you will get towed. Every day at 11 AM (opening) and 4 PM (closing), they feed and exercise the seals. This is not a sea world show, but the trainer will answer questions and get them to show off a bit. Don't plan on spending the whole day here. An hour is more than enough.

Not a large aquarium, but they let you check out their back room (the backs of the fish tanks), and they have a couple of seals outside. There's also a tank where you can touch some creatures (two-finger touch only I think). I think what you get out of this place depends on how perceptive you are, how curious you are, how much you know about the sea, and how much you don't know about the sea. I learned a lot here. Museum admission is free, but they accept donations. Street parking only (metered parking). There's more than just aquariums here. Don't forget to look up.

Really awesome aquarium that doesn't require an admissions fee - not very big, but it's clean inside & the employees are SO nice & helpful. Really enjoyed my time there, even throughout screaming like a little girl at the touch tank. The lobster & giant turtle displays were my Favvvooorrritte.

This place was our first stop on our trip to Cape Cod. Admission is free but parking may be scarce. We managed to find street parking nearby. The aquarium itself was small but there is access to the area behind the exhibits. The fish appeared to be healthy and this was the first time I've seen a school of Atlantic salmon.

Located in a beautiful setting, the Aquarium is not very big, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in the quality of the exhibits. The first floor has numerous traditional aquarium exhibits in large tanks. Upstairs there is a hands-on tank where kids can explore crabs, star fish, and other aquatic creatures; upstairs also houses numerous large tanks that house a variety of aquatic animals apparently undergoing research and extended care. The Aquarium gives a good tourist view into sea life while also providing a great glimpse into the day-to-day scientific/research aspect. The day we visited, the aquarium was uncomfortably crowded and we felt rushed through the exhibits; so it would be worthwhile to plan your visit accordingly and make for a relatively at-ease, engaging experience.

Proving you don't have to be huge to be educational, the WH Science Aquarium is perfect for kids. Seal tank out front is the highlight but the exhibits are informative and simple. Plus, you get to learn a bit about New England fisheries and where your seafood comes from. Local food isn't just for agriculture!

I visited this place when I was in high school. We had to make reservations during the summer for a tour of the entire place. I don't know if that is still true now. We saw all sorts of things here and it was nice since it felt like a private tour. There were huge tanks of squid in the back being fed as well as a huge submarine that we saw used for marine exploration. This place is amazing and great for kids and adults.

Supreme! A fantastic, free aquarium that is in a great location and offers terrific facts and fish. Definitely check it out

It took us 1.25 hour drive to get to this aquarium but it was worth the efforts. It was a small place but full of interesting marine lives. We went through the building 3x and discovered something new on every repetition! We also spent a lot of time observing the seals outside - fascinating! It was definitely a learning as well as a fun experience.

This aquarium is a small but educational place to take the kids. You should know that parking is on street only and is metered. Four quarters will get you an hour. It is age level. There is no charge, but they will accept any donations you want to give them. It is a two level facility. Tanks and exhibits are on the first level. The small touch tank and some small tanks are on the second level. They have two harbor seals in an outdoor exhibit right in front of the aquarium that they rescued from some of the great whites earlier this year. This is a great place to go with younger kids.

Two things - the aquarium is really really small so it will only take you about 20 minutes to get through. Secondly, do not, under any circumstances, go right at the opening time. There is a huge line and the sign in at the front desk slows down the entry to a crawl. Then there are so many people that you can't get near the tanks. One other tip - bring a carrier or a backpack carrier if you have a toddler. The acquariums are at eye level so the little ones can't see unless you hold the the whole time...ouch.

BEST FREE THING in Falmouth. Keep in mind, it's a 'hospital' as well as refuge for exotic critters that might've ended up on the dinner table. You may not see the same inhabitants twice. LOVE how you can look through the front of the tank area, then go 'behind the scenes', and go into the the back/inner workings of the aquarium. Of course, there's a touch-tank. Interesting NOAA nautical stuff there, too.

Very educational, free, and easy to do with the little one! It's small, so easy to do in a short period of time. Lots of different sea life to see, and the seals are terribly cute. I wouldn't say it's worth driving an hour to go see, but for a stop in Wood's Hole after a bike ride, it was wonderful.

We wandered by right around closing but we were still able to catch the seal demonstration. A very small and intimate aquarium, wish we had found it earlier!

Free and fantastic! Make sure you bring plenty of change for the parking meters as well as a donation. We only had change for 1.5 hours, which meant we didn't have quite enough time to finish watching the seal feeding. (We arrived early and he let us in since it was so cold and rainy out.) Not as big as the New England Aquarium, but plenty of cool fish and things to play with (like a steering wheel and a marine sounds station). Touch tank was pretty cool. Animals were very docile and you could even look down into the other tanks to get a different perspective. From what we saw of the seal session, it was very informative and the animals were very sweet and playful. Definitely go if you're in the area. It's free!

This is a very nice Aquarium with a lot of local fish. Perfect for younger kids. Free entrance is nice. Located in a great little town.

Small Aquarium that's free!! ( although there is a suggested donation that we made) - good spot to spend an hour or so to keep the kids entertained. Nice mission and marine life was nice to see some local stuff. Shark stuff was very interesting to my 5 year old. Loved our quick visit to woods hole science aquarium. The seals were a big hit and very educational.

Came here during winter off-season time as tourists, so we didn't have to fight the crowd to see all the fascinating creatures. The whole place is tiny, and only took us 30 minute to see everything but for some reason, it's easy to fall in love with this place. Maybe it's the intimacy of a small place, or the friendly staff, or you actually get to learn about the sea creatures there. Be sure to stop by!

The blue lobster was hiding during my visit unfortunately, but I still had a good time since I got a behind the scenes tour before they opened and saw the winter skate and her babies (incubating in egg purses). The aquarium is small but has a good selection of commercially caught fish like Atlantic salmon, white hake, and halibut and I think it's important for people to know what they are eating. They also have chain dogfish sharks which are quite pretty. There is an information display that explains who Spencer Baird is, the first US Fisheries Commissioner, which is worth reading. While this aquarium is run by NOAA and WHOI, there are many other marine science related places you must check out while in Woods Hole, like the WHOI Exhibit Center and the Marine Biological Laboratory gift shop.

What a wonderful little surprise! Free admission is nice but parking is not! There are only a few spots! But we eventually found one and my young kids loved this little aquarium! Stop if you're in the area!

An excellent place for a 3 yo - nice variety of fish/crabs/turtles/lobsters, everything is easily accessible, a touch tank, a couple of seals outside and everything is free. Can one ask for more? The parents and the 8 month old had a great time as well. A hidden gem indeed.

Pretty fun place. They have seals in the summer, and you can play with starfish upstairs. Years ago, one of the locals took a 1am swim with the seals.