The 3 Best Aquariums in (and Near) Iowa

Iowa is the birthplace of sliced bread, so nothing is more remarkable, hands down. The state is also known for its fields of corn. In 2019, Iowa produced around 2.58 billion bushels of corn. Iowa has its series of Great Lakes, so it’s no wonder this state would have magnificent aquariums to visit.

The Great Lakes, also known as Okoboji, is a top vacation place. Big Spirit Lake, West Okoboji Lake, and East Okoboji Lake are the three biggest lakes. Many rivers also make their way through Iowa.

The Mississippi River itself crosses through Iowa, so Iowa holds the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. There are no other aquariums in Iowa, so we will look through some aquariums from neighboring states, Missouri and Nebraska.

Now that we know what to expect, let’s learn about the aquariums!

1. National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium is known for its extensive detail on the rivers of the United States. River ecosystems are essential to understand because they provide an integral service to any habitat.

Rivers provide drinking water to both people and animals. They also help with irrigation so that lands do not flood after heavy rains. Within them are whole ecosystems for various fish and aquatic plants and animals.

There are two buildings at this museum; one focuses on the Mississippi River, and the other centers on the rest of the rivers and how they affect the country.

The many exhibits of this aquarium include:

This aquarium has a vast amount of activities to do and plenty of exhibits to help educate you on river systems.

2. Sea Life Kansas City

The main attraction of Sea Life Kansas City is a 360-degree tunnel that lets you walk while the sealife swims around you. Explore what this aquarium has to offer and interact with all the activities they have within their exhibits.

Their exhibits include:

• Sea Turtle Rescue Center
• Interactive Touchpool
• Stingray Bay Exhibit
• Tropical Ocean Exhibit
• Doodle Reef

At Sea Life Kansas City, they make sure to give back to the community and are involved in multiple conservation efforts. They breed seahorses, rescue injured seals, provide homes for injured wildlife, and have had fundraising efforts to assist with sea turtle conservation.

There is also an extensive display of jellyfish, so you can watch them floating in their habitat, see all the styles and colors, and learn what makes them tick. 

3. Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium

The Suzanne and Walker Scott Aquarium makes its home nestled in the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. It is one of the largest aquariums within a zoo in the world.

There are about 1,200,000 gallons of water within this aquarium and so many different species to explore. Many displays take over the aquarium, including the home of the giant pacific octopus.

Watch trained sea lions perform tricks or observe them in their natural habitats. There are penguins to be amused by and sharks to watch. A shark tunnel is also available where you can experience sharks swimming all the way around you in glorious reality.

Some sections showcase different regions, from temperate to polar and beyond. Jellyfish can be spotted swirling in beautiful colonies, and there are touch tanks, too, so you can get the chance to see what a stingray feels like.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Arunee Rodloy/Shutterstock.com