Chicago's own Shedd Aquarium was tops in attendance of any aquarium in the country with almost 2.17 million visitors last year, officials there announced Thursday.
"The entire Shedd Aquarium organization is grateful to our supporters who made us the top-attended aquarium in the country last year, which in turn, allows Shedd to provide world-class care for our 32,500 animals, educate the millions of guests who enter our doors and contribute to conservation research globally," Ted A. Beattie, president and CEO said in a news release.
"Each one of our members, guests, donors, partners and other friends of the aquarium enable us to share our passion for animals and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards."
By its own count, the big attendance numbers funneled $112.7 million in to the local economy.
Shedd Aquarium is among the 11 "Museums In the Park" — a group of museums located on Chicago Park District property. The aquarium represented one-third of the coalition's overall attendance in 2012, according to the museum.
Thursday, May 16 2013 9:49 PM EDT2013-05-17 01:49:53 GMT
Mayor Emanuel will celebrate two years in office by unveiling "Elevate Chicago" on Thursday, a series of construction projects to improve Navy Pier and McCormick Place.
Mayor Emanuel will celebrate two years in office by unveiling "Elevate Chicago" on Thursday, a series of construction projects to improve Navy Pier and McCormick Place.
Monday, February 25 2013 1:41 PM EST2013-02-25 18:41:37 GMT
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Monday, May 20 2013 8:33 PM EDT2013-05-21 00:33:23 GMT
A Merrillville police officer shot a man Monday afternoon when the two got into a fight in the parking lot of the Merrillville Planned Parenthood office.
A Merrillville police officer shot a man Monday afternoon when the two got into a fight in the parking lot of the Merrillville Planned Parenthood office.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:52 PM EDT2013-05-20 21:52:14 GMT
Gov. Pat Quinn said Illinois lawmakers have a chance to make history on two fronts this month by approving a plan to fix the state's decades-old pension crisis and legalizing same-sex marriage.
Gov. Pat Quinn said Illinois lawmakers have a chance to make history on two fronts this month by approving a plan to fix the state's decades-old pension crisis and legalizing same-sex marriage.
