10 replies to this topic

[BLChristie]

Thought I would throw this out there, I can't guarantee we can set something up to this effect, but I have talked this over with the aquarium's curator (my boss) and he was pretty receptive to the idea. I wanted to gauge the interest level y'all might have and we can go from there:

For those of you coming through the Dallas area Wednesday afternoon/evening before the conference, would anyone be interested in touring the Dallas Aquarium at Fair Park?

We are one of the oldest public aquaria in the world, having opened our doors in 1936, we are a small facility by today's standards, but we pride ourselves on the diversity of the collection, including a pretty good diversity of native freshwater species, and a breeding lab that is home to some of the last remaining living specimens of desert pupfishes (and a pretty good collection of saltwater stuff too).

I'm thinking if we get enough interest we might be able to set up a time for a group tour and behind-the-scenes look at the aquarium and the breeding lab, I can post pictures if anyone is curious.

Like you we welcome any opportunity to talk fish with folks who share our passion. I can't guarantee anything, but hopefully if there is enough interest we can set something up ...just throwing it out there, let me know what y'all think!
-Barrett

[AC-editor]

Barrett,
It may be a little early for people to figure out their schedules. I know I need to wait to get the expense cleared, but I would like to take a look around.
Clark

[BLChristie]

Yeah, that's what I thought, just wanted to throw it out there for folks to see if anyone would be interested (since everyone will likely be flying in to DFW or driving south on 35 anyway)

[Mysteryman]

Hey, this is a very nice offer! I'm gonna "bump" this thread to remind folks of it.

[Casper]

We are one of the oldest public aquaria in the world, having opened our doors in 1936, we are a small facility by today's standards, but we pride ourselves on the diversity of the collection, including a pretty good diversity of native freshwater species, and a breeding lab that is home to some of the last remaining living specimens of desert pupfishes.

I like the sound of that. thanks for the nice offer Barrett.

I'm still studying my options. I cant decide if i should fly to dallas or make the drive. I will know by the first of August.

Tease us with a few pics. and maybe a website link.

Casper

[Casper]

http://www.dallaszoo...um/aquarium.htm

Here is a link to their site. Thanks Barrett for the kind and interesting offer.
Art deco building, eh? 6' Alligator Gar. What other species of native fish will we see? You mentioned posting some pics.

I'm wondering about wed vs thursday. Most folks, i suspect will be flying in thursday. Thursday afternoon might be best which would still allow people to get to Athens and the Inn on the Hill early thursday evening to settle in and socialize a bit.

A wednesday tour of the Dallas Aquarium might be a day to soon.

?

I dont think Wayne has any plans for us thursday at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center besides registration.

[AC-editor]

I'm wondering about wed vs thursday. Most folks, i suspect will be flying in thursday. Thursday afternoon might be best which would still allow people to get to Athens and the Inn on the Hill early thursday evening to settle in and socialize a bit.

A wednesday tour of the Dallas Aquarium might be a day to soon.

?

I dont think Wayne has any plans for us thursday at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center besides registration.

I think Thursday will be good as well. I am landing at Dallas/Ft Worth around 12:19 (provided United still exists and/or has not cut any more flights
Also if anyone needs a ride I will be renting a car and have some room.
Clark

[BLChristie]

OK, been off the forum for a while, Wayne called me to let me know some of y'all were interested- will try to post a few pics and set up a date if anyone would like a tour...looks like that Thursday would actually work the best, as the State Fair (which we are inside) starts on Friday and that will be sheer insanity, plus I'd hate for any of y'all to have to pay State Fair admission to get in just to see the aquarium.

....been a pretty insane week, and I'm about to depart to Puerto Rico to collect coral larvae for two weeks, so I'll try to get some pics up before I go...

[Michael Wolfe]

This is a great offer... I know that a few of us are going to be coming in on Thursday and would love to get a tour... was planning on going to the aquarium anyway... I am getting there earlier in teh day, but I think a few folks are going to get there in the afternoon... so that will probabluy end up being be the best time for the most people.

[BLChristie]

Ok, a few pics, bear in mind we are the older, smaller aquarium in Dallas, so if you are coming through you may wish to make some time to make it over to the World Aquarium as well.

The pics aren't great- but here goes: pics in no particular order: the outside of our building, the original 1936 art deco building, I threw this in b/c I like the carvings, the other pics aren't great, but include the freshwater wing, electric eel exhibit, lined seahorse, freshwater pipefish (T. smithii), sea turtle, behind the scenes of the freshwater wing (I just think the old school open-system well water concrete tanks w/natural sunlight are too cool), and one of my favorites, Macroramphosus scolopax...the snipefish...oh and there is one of our 200lb alligator snapping turtle in there as well.

I didn't include any pictures of our breeding lab, but we are heavily involved in breeding desert pupfish species through the DFC, and also maintan a large collection of Texas troglobitic salamanders...hopefully we'll get our pupfish master to give a talk at the conference on pupfish breeding, so I don't want to spoil it

...ok, off to Puerto Rico, back at the end of the month, talk amongst yourselves, if anyone wants to come by and have a look I'll try to set something up when I get back, around sep 1st....thanks for all the interest!

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Edited by BLChristie, 12 August 2008 - 05:29 PM.

[BLChristie]

Ok, back from my trip for a couple weeks now, finally getting caught up and all the dust has settled, thanks for all the interest, I think the best way to do this will be to set up one time that day, Thursday the 25th, say about 4:00? That's normally right before closing at 4:30, everyone can have a chance to look around while we are open, and once all the guests have left I can open up the doors and show y'all behind the scenes- for those interested, just shoot me an email at barrett.christie*at*dallascityhall.com and let me know if you plan on coming down to take a look...

For those of you who may be coming through town a bit earlier, but still wish to take a peek, shoot me an email and let me know about what time you expect to be coming through and give me a list of names, and I'll make sure they know to let you in free if you're with NANFA.

Also if you have a group of folks coming through at a time other than 4 let me know and I may be able to do a quick behind the scenes tour (no promises though).

Still not sure if parking will be free that day or not (state fair starts the next day), will keep y'all posted.

Also remember Dallas has 2 aquariums- you'll want to make time to see the World Aquarium at some point too...
...but they don't have pupfish

Thanks again for all the interest, I look forward to meeting a lot of you!