2007
The Aquarium’s newest theme program, Killer Instincts, opened to the public. This exhibit helped visitors learn the truth about the animals we most fear — such as the sand tiger shark, anaconda, great barracuda, electric eel, lionfish, moray eel, giant Pacific octopus and southern stingray. The program included a larger-than-life shark video and an IMAX film, Sea Monsters 3D: A Prehistoric Adventure.
After five years of planning, the Aquarium conducted a major expedition with National Geographic and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to the 10,000-foot deep Celebes Sea in the Indo-Pacific. The expedition was notable in that the relatively warm Celebes Sea harbors living fossils, prehistoric animals dating back tens or hundreds of millions of years. The team used time-delayed video cameras, nets, SCUBA gear, and a sub-like ROV (remotely operated vehicle) on the hunt for strange creatures and new habitats.
The Aquarium launched a new comprehensive five-year plan for upgrading exhibits, and strengthening education and conservation programs.
1.3 million people visited the Aquarium in 2007, including more than 100,000 schoolchildren.
The Aquarium completed a detailed review of the science pertaining to the impact of climate change, entitled Global Change and the Marine Environment.
The sustainable seafood initiative now includes the development of a new business model for Aquarium partners who buy seafood in quantity, Ahold, Gorton’s and Dardens, in order to ensure sustainable stocks of seafood.
Researchers began a multi-year study to assess the impact of a major new offshore Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) terminal off Gloucester.
Spearheaded by Aquarium scientist Dr. Moira Brown, a team from the New England Aquarium and the Canadian Whale Institute convinced the Canadian government to designate the Roseway Basin, where right whales congregate, as an area to be avoided by shipping traffic. (Collisions with ships are one of the leading causes of death of right whales, which are highly endangered.) In addition, Harvard University Press published "The Urban Whale," edited by Scott Kraus and Rosalind Rolland, scientists at the Aquarium. The book presents current knowledge about the biology and plight of critically endangered right whales.
2006
The Aquarium earned full accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums; the committee commended the ongoing commitment to marine conservation.
We welcomed Ursula, Cordova and Chainsaw, three female northern fur seals, a new species for the Aquarium. The seals, on loan from the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, were seen by thousands of visitors.
The Walk Like a Penguin program launched with interactive features, live presentations, ice sculptures, podcasts and more, enabling visitors to understand penguins in new ways. After six penguin chicks hatched, one from an egg donated by the Detroit Zoo, the Aquarium's penguin population swelled to 65 birds. Since 1968, the Aquarium has hatched and raised 60 penguin chicks. The penguins are one of the most popular exhibits at the Aquarium.
Stars of the Sea featured the Aquarium’s most popular animals, including the sand tiger shark, green seaturtle, giant Pacific octopus, barracuda and more.
With funding from Conservation International, the Aquarium, lead by Greg Stone, collaborated with the country of Kiribati in the South Pacific to establish one of the largest protected marine areas in the world. The goal of this project is to preserve the rare biodiversity in this pristine area, which has eight coral atolls and two submerged reef systems.
The Simons IMAX Theatre welcomed its 2 millionth guest. In addition to showing Hollywood movies, the theatre features animals too large, too small, too dangerous or endangered to be shown inside the Aquarium.
2005
Aquarium launched Sharks: Tales and Truths, a new program approach that showcased our impressive collection of sharks. The interdisciplinary program involved many departments in the Aquarium — from education to animal husbandry to conservation. The program was complemented by an IMAX film, Sharks 3D, which was seen by 210,000 visitors.
A new program, Turtle Trek, launched, coinciding with sea turtle stranding season, when endangered sea turtles recuperate in our medical center. Visitors “traveled the turtle trail” of live animals and learned about these creatures that have been on Earth for 300 million years.
The new Curious George Discovery Corner opened; the bright new carpeted space in the main building will be a focal point for family programs.
Following the tsunami of 2004, Aquarium scientist Greg Stone led an expedition with the National Geographic Society to survey Thailand’s coral reefs.
Bud Ris, a figure in both the scientific and environmental fields, becomes President and Chief Executive Officer of the Aquarium. He replaced Edmund Toomey who returned to academia after his years as President and CEO. Ris was former head of the Union of Concerned Scientists. He has been at the forefront of debates on key issues such as climate change and began his career working on marine conservation and coastal zone management.
2004
The Aquarium’s right whale research project turned 25, making it one of the longest running whale studies in the world. The Aquarium’s right whale research team seeks to prevent the extinction of the species (currently only about 350 right whales exist) by working with scientists, fishermen, government agencies, and shipping companies. The Aquarium has pioneered work using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to track movement patterns of these whales and provide real-time information about their location to avoid collisions with ships.
Dan Holmes, a Plymouth lobsterman, donated a rare white lobster to the Aquarium. These lobsters are extremely rare — a one-in-100-million occurrence.
2003
Amazing Jellies, a two-story twelve-tank exhibit was launched, showcasing these mysterious animals. The exhibit was funded by a $1.9 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The exhibit focused on the fact that jellies are “survivors,” increasing in number due to climate change. The exhibit included a specially-designed tank that maintains a continuous current in order to keep the jellies in motion since they are unaccustomed to boundaries.
The IMAX theatre drew crowds to "Ocean Wonderland, Ghosts of the Abyss," a film exploring the wreck of the Titanic, and Matrix Reloaded, the first simultaneous release of a Hollywood movie in 35mm and IMAX. The Simons IMAX Theatre at the Aquarium has New England’s largest screen and 12,000 watts of sound.
2002
Living Links: Choices for Survival opened. Using sea turtles, frogs and fish as travel companions, visitors were guided across land, freshwater and sea to understand the links between ecosystems.
AMC joined forces with Harvard Medical School doctors to try a healing technique on fish; all the fish that were treated were fully healed and returned to their exhibits.
Based on over two decades of Aquarium research, the plan for vessel traffic in the Bay of Fundy was changed to reduce the likelihood of vessels hitting endangered right whales. The small shift was nevertheless expected to reduce these incidents by up to 80%.
2001
The Matthew and Marcia Simons IMAX® Theatre opened to the public. A 3-D theatre with a six-story flat screen, it was designed to show visitors animals that are too large, too small or too endangered to exhibit live at the Aquarium.
Ed Toomey became the new executive director of the Aquarium.
2000
The new Immersion Interactive Theater opened; it showed the film titled Here’s Boston as well as short films produced in-house by the Aquarium staff.
Nyanja: Africa’s Inland Sea exhibit opened.
The Activity Center was created for hands-on family learning for children 10 and under.
1999
An offsite exploration center opened in Newport, R.I. that encouraged beachgoers to take a closer look at shore animals and their habitats; it offered hands-on educational and art activities, beach walks and talks by experts.
Sounds of the Sea, an exhibit funded by the National Science Foundation, opened in the Education Center.
Voyager III, a customized catamaran, joined the fleet making daily whale watching trips.
The Little Blues penguins joined the African penguins in the always-popular penguin exhibit.
A new facility for harbor porpoise rehabilitation was opened in Duxbury, Mass. with a “critical care” pool and a 29,000-gallon rehabilitation tank with the ability to house up to three porpoises at a time.
1998
With the completion of the West Wing, a larger space for changing exhibits was created. The expanded space included a larger gift shop and the Harbor View Café, which overlooks Boston Harbor with views of the Boston skyline. 
The popular penguin exhibit was renovated with an improved habitat for the animals and new signage to educate visitors on the life and habitat of these amazing animals.
1997
The new Aquarium Medical Center, which gave visitors an “inside look” at animal care, was opened to the public.
The first exhibit of the new Education Center focused on Georges Bank and told the story of this area fishery with live animals and hands-on exhibits.
A new seal and sea otter exhibit opened, providing an intimate view of California sea otters and Harbor seals in a naturalistic setting.
1996
In September, the Aquarium broke ground for its new West Wing.
A new special exhibit "Ponds: the Earth's Eyes" opened.
1995
The Aquarium launched its first web site.
A new exhibit, Jellies, opened to foster awareness and appreciation of these beautiful but misunderstood animals.
The Aquarium's Education Center opened.
1994
The Aquarium unveiled plans and exhibit concepts for an expanded facility.
More than 7,000 people attended Aquafest, a free public celebration of the Aquarium's 25th birthday.
Jerry Schubel, an oceanographer from SUNY, Long Island, was named President and CEO of the Aquarium upon the retirement of executive director John Prescott.
The Women in Science program launched, offering middle school girls the opportunity to learn about research, conservation and animal care from female scientists at the Aquarium.
1993
The Aquarium named a new design team for a major expansion of the facility.
A new position of conservation officer was created; this person was charged with developing and implementing a strategic plan for aquatic conservation.
The Animal Heath Department at the Aquarium was started, designed to allow visitors to see veterinarians in action as they treated exhibit animals and animals recently rescued from the wild.
1992
The Boston Harbor Room was renovated.
"To present, promote and protect the world of water" was adopted as the mission of the Aquarium.
1991
Voyager II, a new state-of-the-art Whale Watch boat, was christened. The Aquarium's "Science at Sea" harbor cruises began onboard the Doc Edgerton.
1989
Aquanaut Sylvia Earle received the David B. Stone Award, saying that she looked forward to the next decade as "the greatest period of underwater discovery."
"Stick Your Neck Out — A Closer Look At Turtles" brought new drama to the life of turtles with a giant fiberglass sculpture over the entrance marquee and an eerie swamp-like setting as their habitat.
1988
Stars of the Sea presented an exhibit of “sea stars” — from a Hollywood perspective.
The Aquarium introduced a new "Thinking Gallery" to educate its visitors on the world of fishes.
1987
Boston Harbor: The Place, the Problem, the Plan became a permanent exhibit in the Boston Harbor View Room. The Aquarium's research staff participated in a Boston Harbor Monitoring Program.
The Aquarium rescued three baby pilot whales from a mass stranding on Cape Cod.
A NOVA TV program and a children's book, "Rescue of the Stranded Whales," celebrated the successful rehabilitation of these whales and their reintroduction to the wild.
1986
The exhibit Don't Blink Now used live animals and video to capture animal behaviors that happen too fast or too infrequently for most of us to notice. 
The Aquarium published "Dive to the Coral Reefs" and "The Last Extinction," reflecting a growing commitment to conservation issues.
1985
The Marine Animal Health Care Center opened.
The Flooded Forest and the Connecticut River Basin exhibits were introduced in the freshwater gallery.
Rock-hopper penguins joined their black-footed cousins in their own special corner of the pool beneath the Giant Ocean Tank.
A new exhibit "Fish As Art" presented the beautiful and the bizarre. "Designer" fish such as goldfish and koi were highlighted.
The Aquarium began "Nature of New England," a regular series of reports for WBZ-TV produced and written by staff member Paul Erickson.
A cookbook, "A Feast of Fishes," joined a growing list of books published in association with the Aquarium.
1984
The Year of the Whale triggered an extravaganza of events including a special exhibit, Whales: New England's Wandering Giants, a symposium on right whales and a "Whales Alive" conference.
The Aquarium's Giant Ocean Tank (GOT) got a major facelift of its coral reef.
1983
"Operation Headstart," organized to protect endangered Plymouth red-bellied turtles, began its first year.
A special exhibit, Out of Sight, gave visitors a new perspective on microscopic life in the water, with some images magnified up to 20,000-30,000 times.
1982
The Cold Marine Gallery was newly refurbished and focused on Northern Waters of the World.
The Aquarium began a collaboration with Elderhostel resulting in an educational outreach program for seniors. NEAq also started Elderreach, a program for visits to nursing homes. A children's hospital outreach program began with the help of education staff and volunteers. 
A new tide pool exhibit, The Edge of the Sea, opened in the freshwater gallery.
The latest exhibit, Frogs and Toads, featured the world's most lovable amphibians.
1981
Two fishes, the red drum and permit, spawned for the first time in the Giant Ocean Tank.
The Aquarium presents The Treasure of the Concepcion, its first special exhibit in a new area for special exhibits.
1980
A New England Aquarium research team unexpectedly discovered twenty-five Atlantic right whales in the Bay of Fundy. Until that time, scientists believed the right whale was nearly extinct. As one of the scientists recalled, “it was like finding a brontosaurus in the backyard.” Later research mapped a right whale migration route from Nova Scotia to Georgia.
"Louisiana Lou," a Risso's dolphin trapped in a harbor tanker slip, was boarded at the Aquarium.
1979
The Boston Pops marked the tenth anniversary of the New England Aquarium. A new waterfront park was inaugurated on the Aquarium's front plaza.
A baby dolphin, "Echo," was born at the Aquarium.
1978
The Aquarium endured the "Blizzard of 78," which brought wind speeds of 93 miles per hour and tides 18 feet above normal to Boston's waterfront.
1977
Dolphins Kathy, Spit, Apollo, Neptune, Dixie and Peach joined sea lions Mugs, Samantha, Merlin and Deacon as Aquarium attractions.
With the consent of the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Aquarium began a program of responding to stranded marine mammals in New England.
1976
The Tall Ships Parade celebrated the Fourth of July.
1974
Jacques Yves-Cousteau received the David. B. Stone award.
Built and launched in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, the barge Discovery moored next to the Aquarium's main building, becoming a marine mammal pavilion for dolphins and sea lions.
1973
Andre the harbor seal begins the first of nine winters at the Aquarium. He summered in Rockport, Maine until his death in 1985.
1972
The first David B. Stone award was given to Woods Hole scientist Bostwick Ketchum. Named after the Aquarium founder and trustee, the Stone award recognizes distinguished service to environment and community.
1971
The Harold E. Edgerton Laboratory, a center for basic and applied science at the Aquarium, was dedicated, honoring time-lapse photo inventor and Aquarium trustee Harold "Doc" Edgerton.
Hoover, the talking harbor seal, began the first of fourteen years at the Aquarium. "Hello there" and "How are you?" were just two of the phrases he knew.
1970
Myrtle, the green sea turtle, took up residence in the Giant Ocean Tank and remains there today — almost 40 years later.
"Spotted Throat" and "Mate," two of the Aquarium's black-footed penguins, gave birth to two baby chicks.
1969
On June 20, The New England Aquarium opened its doors to the public with more than 12,000 visitors the first day. By year-end, 425,000 visitors had seen its exhibits.
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