Tennessee Aquarium

Set on the banks of the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga, the Tennessee Aquarium spans two connected buildings, River Journey and Ocean Journey, that trace the path of water from mountain streams to the open sea. Guests and their event guests can get up close to alligators, otters, and freshwater fish in River Journey, then cross into Ocean Journey for penguins, sharks, stingrays, and moray eels, all with views of the Tennessee River. For private events, the Aquarium offers several distinct spaces. The Lupton Room, a 3,000+ square foot space in the River Journey building surrounded by sea nettle jellyfish and freshwater fish tanks, is equipped with AV and dimmable lighting and suits daytime meetings and luncheons. River Journey's outdoor pavilion and Ocean Journey's river-view galleries provide additional reception space, while the IMAX Great Hall, with its two-story arches, and the six-story IMAX 3D Theater lend themselves to elegant wedding receptions and corporate dinners. For larger celebrations, the entire Aquarium can be rented for a full-building buyout accommodating up to 1,500 guests, with exhibit access included throughout the evening. A 501(c)3 nonprofit that opened in 1992 as the centerpiece of Chattanooga's riverfront revitalization, the Aquarium continues to support freshwater conservation work through its research arm, the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute.