History

• The Junior League of Corpus Christi and the local Jaycees form a coalition creating the Gulf Coast Zoological and Botanical Society whose purpose would be to build the local aquarium.
  

• Members of Leadership Corpus Christi Alumni join in support of the project.
  

• Organization's name changes to the Corpus Christi Aquarium Association to encourage local enthusiasm and support.
  

• Junior League donates $50,000 to launch project.
  

• Building fund increases to over $1 million, led by a $350,000 grant from the Earl C. Sams Foundation in Corpus Christi.
  

• The Brown Foundation of Houston awards a $1.5 million challenge grant to the project.
  

• The Texas State Legislature designates Corpus Christi's proposed aquarium the "Official Aquarium of Texas."
  

• Name changes to Texas State Aquarium Association (TSAA).
• TSAA purchases 6.3 Acres of land on the southern tip of Corpus Christi Beach
• Local voters approve a $4.4 million bond issue for the improvement of public properties surrounding the site.
  

• A four-phased master plan is initiated. Corpus Christi Downtown Reinvestment Zone invests $10 million and the Housing Finance Corporation Invests $500,000.
  

• A $3 million investment from the Houston Endowment moves the project from the design stage to final plans and ground breaking
• Construction begins in September
  

• The Texas State Aquarium (TSA) opens its Gulf of Mexico Exhibit Building to the public on July 6, 1990.
  

• TSA becomes a federally-permitted animal rehabilitation facility.
  

• TSA becomes accredited with the AZA, American Zoo & Aquarium Association.
• TSA celebrates its 5th anniversary with a Willie Nelson Concert.
• Education outreach expands with the launching of the mobile exhibit Ocean in Motion.
• Turtle Bend opens featuring several of the TSA's rehabilitated sea turtles.
  

• Otter Space opens in Conservation Cove featuring North American River Otters.
• TSA receives Mutual of America's Outstanding Public-Private partnership Award for the television show, Wonders Under the Sea.
  

• TSA receives the Munson Aquatic Conservation Exhibitry Award from AZA for Ocean in Motion.
  

• TSA holds first Beach Ball Gala featuring the Beach Boys.
• TSA adopts a special exhibit plan and opens Jellies: Floating Phantoms.
• Coastal America, a partnership of 13 feder departments and the office of the President, designates TSA as a coastal Ecosystem Learning Center.
  

• TSA presents second special exhibit, Swamp Tales, featuring Roscoe the white alligator.
• Interpretive Walkway opens.
  

• TSA opens third special exhibit, Seahorse Seatopia
• TSA introduces Dollar Day, a local program designed to increase acessibility to families throughout the City.
• Teacher workshops become registered with the State Board for Educator Certification.
  

• TSA breaks ground on Dolphin Bay, the largest expansion since the Grand Opening, with over $10 million in private donations raised.
• Stingray Flats and Texas Trails open.
  

• TSA opens fourth special exhibit, Oddysea.
• Kids' Port playground opens
• Dolphin Bay fundraising reaches $14.7 million and TSA successfully completes the requirements of a $750,000 Kresge challenge grant.
  

• Dolphin Bay opens to rave reviews as the city welcomes "Kimo" and "Sundance."
• Environmental Discovery Center opens, featuring an expanded Weston's Library, the Blanche Davis Moore Family Learning Center, and the Flint Hills Resources Distance Learning Studio.
• TSA tops off the year with Beach Ball 2003 starring Chicago.
  

• TSA wins the 2004 Conservation and Environmental Stewardship Award for Public Awareness from the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation.
  

• TSA celebrates 15th anniversary year with the opening of its fifth special exhibit, AMAZON.
• Two new Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins, "Cobie" and "Shadow", join Dolphin Bay.
  

• TSA introduces newest exhibit, Living Shores,which interprets the Laguna Madre.
• "Kai" and "DJ" join "Cobie" and "Shadow" in Dolphin Bay.
• "Naiya" the anteater enters AMAZON.
• Highest attendance since 1993.
  

• TSA earns accreditation from the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums for Dolphin Bay.
• Wild Flight soars at TSA. The first phase of a three-year renovation is complete with the opening of the Hawn Wild Flight Theater.
• New otters, Gwen and Odie, make their home at TSA.
• TSA begins extensive renovations of sea turtle exhibit.
  

• Newly renovated Tortuga Cay and Otter Creek open in Spring. The final phase of Conservation Cove begins, as ground is broken on Eagle Pass and Swamp Tales.