The Best—And Only—Aquarium in Birmingham, AL!
One of our most popular exhibits here at McWane Science Center is the World of Water aquarium, included in every general admission ticket. The World of Water provides a fascinating glimpse into our planet’s marine life. It also serves as an educational and research opportunity for students of environmental science, marine biology, aquatic ecology, and more. Come rain or shine, high summer heat or bitter winter cold, World of Water at McWane Science Center is an indoor attraction that can be enjoyed year-round.
River Journey
River Journey is a large natural habitat that re-creates a section of the Cahaba River, Alabama’s last major free-flowing river and one of the most biologically diverse waterways on the planet. This exhibit combines terrestrial and aquatic environments to focus on the animals and plants that live in and along the river.
Lake Tank
The Lake Tank contains fish typically found in an Alabama Reservoir habitat. Many lakes in Alabama are actually impounded reservoirs, which are rivers that have been dammed to create large flood pools. You can also see our Cypress Forest tank here, recreating river delta habitats in Southern Alabama.
Ocean Journey
The Ocean Journey area is dedicated to saltwater environments from around the world and features some of the most amazing creatures in the ocean. Make your way through various seascapes, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific Ocean, and more. This exhibit is bursting with tropical fish, including favorites like the green moray eel, the moon jellyfish, clownfish, and more.
Coral Tank
The Coral Tank features corals from the Indo-Pacific region. You will also find brightly colored fish and live rock in the Coral Tank. Everything in this tank has a unique job—like cleaning algae or picking parasites off of the coral.
Shark & Ray Touch Tank
The Shark & Ray Touch Tank is reopening November 13th. Meet our sharks and rays and check out their refreshed habitat. Some of the changes you can see and some you may not. For example, you will not be able to see the deep cleaning and repairs we did to the filtration. Repairs were made under the sand layer to help move the water to and from the filters. Back of house filters were deep cleaned and the sand in the sand filter was replaced. The Touch tank is open during normal business hours!
