A couple of New Orleans' biggest attractions reopen today. The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and Insectarium are now under one roof.
"We couldn't be more excited," Audubon Nature Institute President Ron Forman told WWL's Newell Normand. Forman said workers have spent the last seven months renovating the aquarium, making space to bring the insectarium over from its old location in the U.S. customs building on Canal to the riverfront.
"With the butterfly garden that you walk through, there will be hundreds and hundreds of butterflies flying all around you, beautiful landscaping with bright flowers everywhere providing the food for the butterflies," said Forman.
The aquarium has also received some work, with the Gulf of Mexico tank now viewable from above as well as below, new hands-on exhibits, and changes to the Amazon rain forest exhibit.
"For the first time you can get to the top of the Gulf of Mexico and look down, as well as below with the tank," Forman said. "We have a touch sea ray exhibit where you can touch the animals, the small sharks. We have a major upgrade in the Amazon exhibit where not only do we have the fish of the Amazon, we have an aviary built into it."
Grand Opening Schedule (all on Aquarium plaza)
9:30 a.m. Black Feather Mardi Gras Indians perform
10:00 a.m. Official Opening – Ron Forman, Audubon Nature Institute President and CEO
Special guests: NORD Exceptional Learners Camp
Doors open for first guests
10:10 a.m. Creole Wild West Mardi Gras Indians perform
