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Shedd Aquarium is closed to the public this day. Please reserve tickets for another day.

Friday, October 9, 2026

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Coming Up:

At 9:15  AM

Sea Otter Encounter

At 10:00  AM

Beluga Rescue Chat

Amphitheater
At 10:30  AM

Kelp Forest Chat

Oceans
At 11:00  AM

Penguin Chat

Underwater Viewing

Must See Tour

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    Before You Arrive

    • Planning Your Visit
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    At the aquarium

    • An icon of the Shedd building's grecian facade. Today at Shedd
    • A map icon. Aquarium Map
    • Soundings Café in Shedd's Oceanarium serves up paninis, soups and sandwiches. Shopping & Dining
    • Rockhopper penguins have long, feathery yellow "eyebrows" of feathers above their eyes. Animal Encounters
    • A giant Pacific octopus with eight arms covered in round, grasping suckers spread out to feel its habitat. 4-D Experiences
    • A guest gently touches the rough, prickly surface of a sea star in sea star touch. See all experiences

    Exhibits

    • A view of Shedd Aquarium from above with a new, large entry pavilion attached to the building's south side. Experience Evolution
    • The Wonder of Water exhibit. Wonder of Water
    • A young visitor stands next to a brightly lit habitat as huge fish and turtles swim by beyond the glass. Amazon Rising
    See all exhibits
  • Animals

    Animals

    • A black tip reef shark, observed by Shedd researchers in the Bahamas, cruises overhead. Sharks
    • Beluga whale Beethoven looks out of the water at Shedd Aquarium. Belugas
    • A juvenile Barbour's map turtle peers interestedly at the camera, the sharp ridges at the top of its shell's dome distinctive. Turtles
    • Rockhopper penguins have long, wispy feathers that sweep back from above their eyes like eyebrows. Penguins
    • Sea otter Luna peers interestedly at a visitor behind the scenes in Shedd's Oceanarium. She has her long body comfortably wedged into a large rubber bucket. Sea Otters
    • The mandarin dragonet is a tiny fish about the size of one's thumb, constantly fanning its fins as it searches for food along the reefs where it lives. See all Animals

    Protecting Animals & Habitats

    • A mussel's size is measured as part of a freshwater mussel survey. Center for Species Survival
    • A sea lion sits in a bucket of water in a California rescue and rehabilitation facility. Global Conservation Partnerships
    • A woman crouches on a pair of plant beds floating in the Chicago river, checking the ties that keep them together. South Branch Initiative
    See all conservation research

    Animal Care

    • Animal Rescue & Response
    • Animal Hospital & Labs
    • Animal Wellbeing
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    • Animal Stories
    • Explore Animal Care
  • Programs & Events

    Programs & Events

    • Laguna perches on the edge of a habitat behind the scenes at Shedd Aquarium. Animal Encounters
    • Under the purple-lighted canopy protecting Shedd's north terrace from the elements, a man spins a woman as they dance salsa to a stage of live musicians in the background. He is wearing nice but casual white shirt and brown dress slacks, and she is wearing a comfortable, breezy striped yellow and black dress with tasteful ruffles at the hem. Evening Events
    • A girl and a dolphin look at each other through the glass in underwater viewing. The dolphin and the girl are about the same size. Youth & Families
    • A group of participants in Shedd's Kayak for Conservation program float in single-person kayaks on the Chicago river, surrounded by greenery and with a bridge in the distance. Conservation Action
    • Educators work on an activity together during Shedd's annual Science Educator Conference. Educators
    • A beluga and calf peer at an underwater camera in Shedd's Oceanarium. All Programs & Events

    Upcoming Events

    • A filefish investigates the eye socket of a plastic skull. Día de los Muertos Ritmo del Mar
    • A moon jelly stands out from a smack of jellies at Shedd Aquarium Haunted House Party
    • A yellow sea horse in oceans gallery, its long snout and curved neck distinctive. Calm Waters
    See all Events

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    Beyond Shedd

    • Travel with Shedd
    • Online Learning
    • Marine Ecology Course
    • Freshwater Ecology Course
  • Act & Support

    Action Spotlights

    • An image of a glass containing several plastic pellets, often called nurdles, found in a natural waterway. Reduce Plastic Pollution
    • A young girl signs her name on a posterboard at Shedd Fight the Foam
    • A group of people, some carrying buckets, walk through grasslands. Restore Local Habitats
    Act with Shedd

    Support

    • A man and his son sit together gazing up at the huge glass wall of a wild reef habitat as it curves above them. Become a Member
    • A tiny baby penguin sits in the cradle of someone's palm. Make a Gift
    • A black family smiles as they are presented by an animal handler with a beautiful green-winged macaw. Join Aquarium Council
    Support Us

    More ways to support

    • Volunteer at Shedd
    • Join Teacher Advisory Council
    • Eat Sustainable Seafood
    • Keep Sharks Swimming
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  1. < MUST SEE TOUR
  2. < MUST SEE TOUR FAQS

Must See Tour FAQs

  • Parking is available on the Museum Campus in several lots. See more information about parking at Shedd here. Metered parking may also be available on Solidarity Drive up to 10 hours, but only after 8 a.m. Shedd is not responsible for cars ticketed or towed by the City of Chicago. Parking is not permitted on the aquarium's service entrance. Vehicles parked at the service entrance or the bus turnaround may be subject to towing. To learn more about parking on the Museum Campus, visit soldierfieldparking.com.

  • Check in at the Member Services Suite in the Atrium, up to 15 minutes before your scheduled encounter. Should you find a line outside the entrance to Shedd, please show your encounter confirmation email to a Shedd representative. They can help expedite your entry. Late arrivals may not be able to join the encounter, in which case the experience is forfeited.

  • Participants must be at least 6 years old, and children 6-17 must be accompanied by a paying participating guardian. For the safety of the animals, no one under the age of 6 may attend the tour.

  • Please wear comfortable clothing and something you don’t mind getting dirty or wet. Be sure to wear rubber sole shoes- sneakers are recommended. For your safety, please do not wear heels or flip-flops on this tour.

  • During this encounter, you may come in contact with shellfish and seafood. For safety, we recommend that guests with shellfish and seafood allergies do not participate.

  • For the safety of the animals and your belongings, coats, bags, phones, jewelry, and cameras must be secured in a locker. Complimentary lockers will be available for storing your belongings during your encounter. 

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John G. Shedd Aquarium 1200 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60605 312-939-2438

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