The National Aquarium in Baltimore:
EMPLOYS more than 250 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees from Baltimore City. Their contributions help make the Aquarium one of the leading aquariums in the country.
PROMISES a priceless educational experience for the entire family and guarantees free and/or discounted admission year-round for local residents. The Aquarium annually hosts Dollar Days one week end in December; Fridays After Five ($8 admission on Friday evenings after 5pm, Sept-Feb) and offers free admission for underserved groups through a special grant. Last year the Aquarium offered free admission to 7600 people.
WELCOMES 14,000-22,000 Baltimore City students annually through the Free Visitation Program for Maryland school groups; 157,000 total schoolchildren visited during 2003; 56,000 visited through the Maryland free school program.
AWARDS scholarships annually to Baltimore City students through the Henry Hall Endowment Fund in honor of the late Henry Hall, a prominent African American engineer, aquarist and philanthropist in Baltimore City. Since 1982, the fund has awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships for paid internships, college tuition, tuition for summer camps and sailing excursions for City students.
SALUTES between 700-1,300 Baltimore City young people and their families annually through its Grade A Student Night. Students receiving three or more As on their report cards during any marking period gain free admission.
SAVES the City more than $45 million by relieving the City of capital improvements and maintenance repairs to the Aquarium’s exterior structures and grounds.
GENERATES more than $100 million in state and local taxes; $2.8 billion in regional spending for Maryland.
