Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States, and there are a lot of places that aren’t found in this state, and people have to travel to another state to find them. There is a big population of people who travel to another state to visit an aquarium, whether it be to Connecticut for Mystic Aquarium or Massachusetts for the New England Aquarium. This big population of people doesn’t know that there is indeed an aquarium located in Rhode Island, specifically in Newport, Rhode Island. Save the Bay is an organization dedicated to conserving and protecting Narragansett Bay while also educating the public about why the bay is important to protect. The public education comes from their family aquarium located in Newport, Rhode Island, at 23 America’s Cup Avenue.

Save the Bay’s Hamilton Family Aquarium is an aquarium with species found and caught locally in Narragansett Bay to educate the public about what environments are in the bay, what species are found in each environment, and why both are very important. This aquarium houses organisms from sharks to turtles to seahorses, taking people by wonder about all that can be found in the bay, even the least expected of species. Some of these species are endangered, such as the salt marsh’s Northern Diamondback Terrapin, which teaches guests what an endangered species is and the importance of protecting it. The education that takes place comes in the form of discussions with staff around the aquarium, interactive activities, and three touch tanks catered to all ages. 

Bob the Northern Diamondback Terrapin in the Salt Marsh exhibit at Save the Bay’s Hamilton Family Aquarium (PC: Heather Jeannette)

The staff at the aquarium are always open and welcoming, having a variety of experiences with the organisms found in the Narragansett Bay. Some are college or high school students working with Save the Bay through an internship, some are volunteering as a hobby, and some are part-time staff with hopes to gain experience working in the marine science field. The interactive activities are catered to guests of all ages, from a kinetic sand box teaching guests about how terrain level influences water and creates watersheds to an ed cart of shark artifacts to teach guests about the different types of sharks that can be found in the ocean, with the opportunity to compare these species to the one found locally in Narragansett Bay. The touch tanks represent three of the biggest environments in the Narragansett Bay: rocky shores, sandy shores, and sandy bottoms. These touch tanks have a variety of species that the educator staff ensure for a safe and educational touching experience, connecting the texture of some species to fun facts about some of the species, such as the Smooth Dogfish’s dermal denticles.

Overall, Save the Bay’s Hamilton Family Aquarium is located in a great spot in Newport, Rhode Island, and taking a visit can be fun, educational, and beneficial, as one can make it a part of spending a day in Newport. The aquarium may be small, but never small enough to be out of the conversation of major aquariums in New England, especially with the cause behind the education.