1977

Four Hopkins Marine Station biologists propose an aquarium.

1978

Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation formed.

1981

Construction at 880 Cannery Row begins.

Oct. 20, 1984

Seven years of efforts culminate in 10,681 visitors passing through MBA’s doors on day one.

1985

Five months after opening, the Aquarium welcomes its millionth visitor. 1985’s 2.4 million attendees sets a U.S. attendance record.

1986

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home films at the Aquarium.

1987

The sibling Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) is founded in Moss Landing.

1988

The American Institute of Architects gives the Aquarium its highest honor.

1989

Living Treasures of the Pacific debuts as part of the Aquarium’s fifth anniversary.

1991

Sharks! dispels myths about the misunderstood creatures opens and a grant from the National Science Foundation allows expand educational services, specifically to Spanish speaking communities.

1992

The largest exhibition of living jellies ever is presented in Planet of the Jellies; 5,300 square miles of coastal ocean, from Marin County to San Simeo,n is designated as the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

1994

Stanford and the Aquarium create the Tuna Research and Conservation Center, the first facility dedicated to the study of adult tunas.

1995

The permanent Cannery Row: From Sardines to Sanctuary debuts as part of 50th anniversary of the publication of John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row.

1996

The open ocean stars at new Outer Bay galleries, a seven-year project housing drifters and swimmers of the deep blue.

1997

MBA mantra refined to read, “The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the oceans.”

1998

President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore visit Monterey, for a gathering of the National Ocean Conference.

2002

Volunteer Sharon Barlow and executive director Julie Packard are two bearers of the Olympic Torch as it passes through the Aquarium. Dr. Steve Webster, a senior marine biologist, carries the flame from Hopkins Marine Station to the Aquarium on a kayak.

2004

A female white shark goes on exhibit in Outer Bay.

2005

‘Cooking for Solutions’ celebrates its fourth year, hosting 14 celebrity chefs.

2006

Attendance hits 40 million – more than the population of California.

2007

Tripadviser.com names the Aquarium as one of the top ten places to visit in the United States.

2008

Two debuts: Ziwa, an African spotted-necked otter is born; the Center for Ocean Solutions is founded to confront problems affecting the world’s oceans.