The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is inviting guests to explore Life Among the Grasses, its new exhibit dedicated to salt marshes. The immersive experience features creatures of Long Island Sound’s tidal habitats and examines ways these habitats have inspired culture.
— an announcement from The Maritime Aquarium
“We are proud and excited to welcome guests to our newest exhibit. Its ambitious design conveys not only how vital salt marshes are for our environmental and economic well-being, but also how central salt marshes are to our culture and identity over the millennia, stretching from Native American folklore to Grateful Dead albums,” said President and CEO Jason Patlis.
As guests walk down the boardwalk and into the bilingual gallery, they will encounter diamondback terrapins, a species of concern in Connecticut, and learn about the threats these turtles face as they move from brackish water to nesting grounds. They will also see over a dozen additional species including longwrist hermit crab, tautog, and lined seahorse.
Photo from The Maritime Aquarium
The exhibit features creatures of Long Island Sound’s tidal habitats and examines ways these habitats have inspired culture.
Moving further into the exhibit, guests will have the opportunity to touch Spartina, the type of grass that grows in salt marshes, to understand what these areas feel like. They will also see how animals react to changes in water levels as they observe the exhibit’s dynamic tidal tank, which moves from high tide to low tide every 7 minutes.
In addition to live habitats, the space features art inspired by salt marshes from nineteenth century paintings to Grateful Dead album covers. The “Marshing Through Time!” digital kiosks allow visitors to take an even deeper dive into the ecological and sociological aspects of New England’s salt marshes through film, storytelling, historic photos, and games.
Life Among the Grasses is the first exhibit to open at the Aquarium since the launch of its new strategic plan in January and follows the July 2023 opening of its Sturgeon Touch Tank.
Photo from The Maritime Aquarium
Visitors to the exhibit will encounter over a dozen species, including the diamondback terrapin, longwrist hermit crab, tautog and lined seahorse.
It aims to ignite a passion in people and inspire them to protect salt marshes — beautiful but threatened ecosystems that protect coastal communities from storm damage, remove nutrients and pollutants from runoff, and store high levels of carbon below ground.
After leaving the Aquarium, guests can continue to enjoy the experience at home by watching a live stream of the Sturgeon Touch Tank. This feature will also provide educators with a unique tool to showcase these prehistoric creatures outside of the Aquarium’s walls during school programs.
Life Among the Grasses was made possible through funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and CT Humanities. To plan a visit to see the new exhibit, visit www.maritimeaquarium.org.
Photo from The Maritime Aquarium
Visitors will have the opportunity to touch Spartina, the type of grass that grows in salt marshes, to understand what these areas feel like. They will also see how animals react to changes in water levels as they observe the exhibit’s dynamic tidal tank, which moves from high tide to low tide every 7 minutes.