The Tennessee Aquarium is Looking for Your Support in National Contest + New Exhibit Opens

Since opening in 1992, the Tennessee Aquarium has become a cornerstone of Chattanooga, blending education, wildlife, and our connection to nature. But from the beginning, it was part of something bigger: a vision to revitalize downtown and reshape how people experience the Tennessee River.

Today, that impact is felt across the Downtown Chattanooga Alliance District, where destinations like the Aquarium continue to draw both visitors and locals to the heart of the city.

The Tennessee Aquarium is also one of several popular attractions that bring people into downtown Chattanooga. That steady foot traffic drives additional spending to all the surrounding storefronts, hotels, and small businesses.

Now, after more than three decades of inspiring curiosity, educating generations, and creating unforgettable experiences for both locals and visitors, it’s your chance to return the favor. The Tennessee Aquarium has once again been nominated as one of just 20 aquariums nationwide for USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Aquarium.

Voting is quick, free, and easy—no sign-up required. You can vote once a day now through May 11 at 11:59 a.m. EDT, so there’s plenty of time to show your support and help keep the Tennessee Aquarium at the top. Better rankings benefit all of downtown.

As if you needed another reason to vote, the Tennessee Aquarium has recently been making waves with its newest addition—Scuttlebutt Reef. This isn’t your typical exhibit. Leaning into the strange, the shocking, and seemingly fictitious, it showcases stories you have to see to believe.

Think glowing sharks, fish that can “walk,” and creatures with abilities that sound more like rumors than reality. Built around curiosity and mystery, the gallery invites you to explore the unexpected side of ocean life in a way that sticks with you after you leave.

So go ahead and cast your vote, and then go see what more than 29 million people have experienced for yourself.

Baylee NelsonApril 20, 2026