Shedd Aquarium

Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium recently announced the opening of an enhanced entry experience that greatly improves the physical accessibility of the historic building, while providing guests with more choice on how to begin their journey to the aquatic world. The transformed entry is part of a new Welcome Plaza that will include more activated garden space, pop-up programming for Museum Campus visitors and a new external ticketing pavilion.

Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium welcomed a new resident to the Abbott Oceanarium on Wednesday evening: a beluga whale calf born to 35-year-old mother, Naya (NI-yah). Earlier that day, the animal care team recognized signs that Naya was going into labor and closed the Secluded Bay habitat to guests. Hours later, shortly after 6 p.m., the calf was born and took its first breath of air at the water’s surface shortly after – a crucial first step for belugas.