Smithsonian Marine Station and Ecosystems Exhibit

Smithsonian Marine Station and Ecosystems Exhibit Yes, the Smithsonian is in Florida! The Smithsonian Marine Station is a research center specializing in marine biodiversity and ecology.
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At the Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit, located within the St. Lucie County Aquarium, visitors can explore marine habitats of Florida and learn about the interconnectedness and importance of each ecosystem.

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06/16/2026

Thank you T.A. Walker for shining a light on us!

Come visit the Aquarium this summer from 10am-4pm Tuesday-Saturday and 12pm-4pm on Sunday! 🌊🦀🐠🐡🪸🪼

Thank you to everyone who came out and celebrated World Ocean Day with us!
06/16/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out and celebrated World Ocean Day with us!

Come on out to World Ocean Day at the St. Lucie County Aquarium from 10am-2pm. Lots to do and free admission to the Smit...
06/06/2026

Come on out to World Ocean Day at the St. Lucie County Aquarium from 10am-2pm. Lots to do and free admission to the Smithsonian Marine Station and Ecosystems Exhibit and the St. Lucie County History Center!

Come see us tomorrow at St. Lucie County’s Earth Day at Oxbow Eco-Center!
04/17/2026

Come see us tomorrow at St. Lucie County’s Earth Day at Oxbow Eco-Center!

04/11/2026

Obviously Sea Hares are one of our absolute favorite critters to find in the lagoon. This wee little Aplysia fasciata - the mottled or sooty sea hare - is young enough that it's tissue hasn't quiiiite developed all its pigments yet. Pair that with a nice, dark-green sheet of Ulva lactuca (sea lettuce!) and you can see the little critter eat through its head! And farther down, towards the central mass of organs, you can also see it's precious little heart thumping away!

Join us for the final lecture of the 2026 Marine Science on Wednesday, April 15! Dr. Holly Sweat will present “Secrets i...
04/06/2026

Join us for the final lecture of the 2026 Marine Science on Wednesday, April 15! Dr. Holly Sweat will present “Secrets in the Sand: Using Tiny Creatures to Measure Ecosystem Health.” Dr. Sweat is a marine ecologist with the Benthic Ecology Laboratory at the Smithsonian Marine Station. Her work includes studying microscopic organisms to understand how they can help restore the health of watersheds in Florida. Dr. Sweat also serves as the Curator of the Indian River Lagoon Species Inventory, a project dedicated to documenting the biodiversity in the lagoon.

This annual series brings the science happening in our backyards straight to members of our community. Pre-registration is required, as space is limited. The lecture is included in normal Aquarium admission ($5/adult, $4/senior 55+) and also includes light refreshments.
To register, email [email protected] or call (772) 465-321. Can't attend in person?
Give us a call or email and we can send you a free link for virtual attendance!

Feature of some creatures you may not find at the aquarium! Starring the home tank of one of our staff members! All of t...
04/04/2026

Feature of some creatures you may not find at the aquarium! Starring the home tank of one of our staff members! All of these corals are from the Indo-Pacific.
In order:
Green Frogspawn (Euphyllia divisa)
- A cute, large polyp stony coral. They're best known for their squishy, frog-egg like tentacles.
Garf Bonsai Acropora (Acropora valida)
- A branching coral with purple skin and bright, green tentacles. We actually have a piece of this coral growing in our Indo-Pacific exhibit!
Carnation Coral (Dendronephthya sp.)
- A difficult specimen, this lovely, vibrant coral is not photosynthetic. It relies on a diet of zooplankton and other microbes. This particular type is especially difficult as it is unknown what particular microbes are part of this coral's diet. But our staff member has done well, one year and still going strong!
Cespitularia sp.
- A hardy coral, this individual seems to sparkle under white colors!

Address

420 Seaway Drive
Fort Pierce, FL
34949

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

(772) 465-3271

Website

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