Fairchild Exhibition

An art exhibit by glass sculptor Dale Chihuly takes place at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden from now through May 31, 2006. Fairchild will extend its hours every Thursday night from 6-8pm for visitors to enjoy Tropical Chihuly Nights. Visitors will experience spectacular views with lighting set against the Garden's s landscapes. Admission is $20 for members, $15 for children members (ages 6-18), $30 for nonmembers, $20 for children non-members (ages 6-18), and free for children 5 and under.

For exhibit information, visit www.fairchildgarden.org or call 305-667-1651.

Miami Seaquarium Kicks Off a Golden Milestone

In 1955 the Ford Thunderbird roared unto the streets for the very first time, the very first edition of The Guinness Book of World Records was published and Gunsmoke the classic American western first aired on national TV.  But it didn’t end there, 1955 brought South Florida its first marine-life attraction, Miami Seaquarium which was the largest marine-life attraction in the world at the time of its opening.  

And now 50 years later, Miami Seaquarium is the longest operating oceanarium in the US.  The park has grown steadily over the past half century and today offers eight different marine animal shows and presentations each day and provides a fun-filled mix of exhibits, shows, attractions, food and shopping opportunities.  In its 50th Anniversary year, Miami Seaquarium, which attracts more than 600,000 visitors each year, is recognized as South Florida’s most popular ‘gated’ attraction. Miami Seaquarium is a premier entertainment destination that is dedicated to education, wildlife conservation and community involvement.

It was on September 24, 1955, after 14 years of planning and 14 months of construction, the $2.3 million, 38-acre Marine Park opened.

The opening day ceremony was attended by thousands of spectators who waited in anticipation for the premiere of the South Florida’s first dolphin show.  The show was presented in the park’s new 13 foot, 600,000 gallon main pool and starred a group of frolicking Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins that couldn’t wait to entertain their first guests.

Since that day in 1955, Miami Seaquarium has attained many milestones in the marine park industry.

Many dolphins have been born in the park.  In fact, 80% of the bottlenose dolphins that reside at Miami Seaquarium were born at the park.  It was just a year after the park opened, that a dolphin named Bebe was born in the park’s main pool to delight park guests.  Her birth was captured in pictures and featured in a two-page photo spread in Life Magazine in December of 1956.   That was just beginning for Bebe’s 40-year history as a star.  She went on to have two sons that reside at the park today and she became the featured performer of the Top Deck dolphin show in the park’s main pool.

Bebe was also a part of many of the movies and TV shows that have filmed at the Miami Seaquarium over the past 5 decades, including her appearance as one of the featured dolphins in the 1960’s TV series “Flipper.”  From 1963 through 1967 eighty-eight television episodes and two movies starring Flipper along with Ranger Porter Ricks and his two sons, Sandy and Bud were filmed at Miami Seaquarium. 

Today Flipper and his friends perform daily in the Flipper Dolphin Show, which takes place at the park’s Flipper Lagoon.

For guests wishing a more personal experience with the park’s dolphins, Miami Seaquarium now offers a ‘Swim with Our Dolphins’ program in the Flipper Lagoon, as well.

There are other areas in the park, where Miami Seaquarium presents a one of a kind experience.  It is the only place in the world where a graceful Pacific White-Sided dolphin can be seen performing alongside a three and a half ton killer whale.  In fact in 1968, when Hugo, a 13-foot, 1800 pound killer whale arrived at the park, Miami Seaquarium became home to the first killer whale east of the Mississippi. On the park’s 15th anniversary, September 24, 1970, Lolita, a 4-year-old female Killer Whale, joined Hugo.   

Lolita, now 20 feet long and tipping the scales at 7,000 pounds, performs each day at the park’s Whale & Dolphin Stadium along with her Pacific White-sided companion. Once thought solely to be fearsome predators, Lolita demonstrates to park guests the killer whale’s grace, beauty and intelligence. 

Along with Lolita the Killer Whale and TV superstar Flipper, Miami Seaquarium is home to a South Florida landmark, the Golden Dome.  This intricate yet strong dome structure stands 55 feet high, with a diameter of 146 feet and weighs 45,000.  World famous architect, Buckmister Fuller, who dedicated the structure in 1960, was the inspiration of the structure’s geodesic design.   Under the shade of the Golden Dome is the show area for another one of the park’s favorite shows featuring the antics of California Sea Lions and Harbor Seals.  Salty the Sea Lion, featured in a 1967 movie by the same name and another of the park’s famous movie stars, headlines this fun and informative show. 

Manatees have also made history at Miami Seaquarium. Romeo and Juliet, endangered Florida Manatees have resided at the park since the late fifties and are responsible for another of the park’s ‘firsts.’ In 1975, Juliet became the first manatee to conceive and give birth in the care of man. Miami Seaquarium is one of only three facilities in the State of Florida with a letter of authorization from the US Fish and Wildlife Service as a Manatee Critical Care Facility.

Throughout its 50-year history, Miami Seaquarium has been recognized as a leader in marine life education. Each year more than 85,000 students participate in the park’s educational programs. These programs are designed to teach participants about the animals featured in the park and the role they play in the ecosystem.