Woods Hole Aquarium Closes for Major Renovations

A historic New England aquarium has closed temporarily for renovations.

The Woods Hole Aquarium in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, is temporarily closed and will reopen in early 2027. Members of the public can explore the aquarium's website for information about hours closer to reopening or follow NOAA Fisheries on Instagram and Facebook for updates.

Regarded as the oldest marine aquarium in the United States, Woods Hole Aquarium opened in 1875 on Cape Cod.

Founded by Spencer Baird — the first U.S. Fish Commissioner — the aquarium began as a research station in 1871 and, in 1875, it added a public aquarium to advance the work of ocean science and education.

Today, the aquarium hosts about 100 marine species from the U.S. Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, according to a Cape Cod Times report. The museum offers historical and skeletal exhibits, as well as touch tanks with crabs and sea stars. It participates in conservation efforts, such as rehabilitating cold-stunned turtles and caring for stranded seals.

The institution also serves educational and research goals, continuing its founder's mission to educate the public about the wonders of the ocean and support conservation of aquatic species.