Monterey Bay Aquarium marks 30th anniversary Monday

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is celebrating its 30th birthday this week.

The facility opened it’s doors on Oct. 20, 1984.

“What started in the late 1970s as the dream of a few marine scientists has grown to become the best aquarium in the world, and an ocean conservation leader of international stature,” founder and director Julie Packard wrote in a message posted online Monday. “The tens of millions of people who have visited over the years, our Aquarium members and donors, the supporters of our Seafood Watch program, and the dedicated staff and volunteers who keep this place humming—all of you have played a critical role in shaping our development, and a future with healthy oceans.”

Packard said she and other founders had no idea what to expect when they opened, but she says their excitement and enthusiasm has only continued to grow ever since.

Packard’s full statement can be read here.