BY THE NUMBERS
1992: Year Tennessee Aquarium built
190,000: Square footage over two buildings
700,000: Visitors in 2008
$762 million: Estimated annual economic impact
Source: Tennessee Aquarium
There's no shortage of local praise for the Tennessee Aquarium, which largely is credited with sparking Chattanooga's downtown revitalization and serving as a magnet for regional tourists.
But on Tuesday, the praise came from outside the city in the form of the highest national honor that can be bestowed upon an aquarium or library.
The sprawling Broad Street facility was named a recipient of the 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service by the Washington, D.C.-based Museum and Library Services.
"I think this is the biggest award," said Charlie Arant, Tennessee Aquarium president and chief executive officer. "It's an award for the facility's impact on the community. I think there's no question the aquarium has been very positive economically for the community, but we do so much educationwise and for conservation."
Ten institutions were given the medal this year, and the Tennessee Aquarium stands with the Braille Institute of America Library in Los Angeles, the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa and the Indianapolis Museum of Art, among others.
"Every day, the Tennessee Aquarium makes a real difference in their community," said museum and library services Director Anne-Imelda M. Radice. "Their exemplary programs respond to community challenges, positively impact people's lives, and serve as a model for the nation's museums and libraries."
The only other aquarium ever given the award was the John G. Shedd Aquarium and Oceanarium in Chicago, which has been in operation for 85 years. That facility won in 2006. The Tennessee Aquarium opened in 1992, but its impact has loomed large.
"The Tennessee Aquarium was the anchor of the downtown revitalization back in 1992 and has continued to be a catalyst for change," said Bob Doak, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. "At that point, people who worked downtown left after work and had nothing to draw them back."
The aquarium will receive the award at a yet-to-be-announced ceremony in Washington and $10,000 in recognition of its contributions.
Adam Crisp covers education issues for the Times Free Press. He joined the paper's staff in 2007 and initially covered crime, public safety, courts and general assignment topics. Prior to Chattanooga, Crisp was a crime reporter at the Savannah Morning News and has been a reporter and editor at community newspapers in southeast Georgia. In college, he led his student paper to a first-place general excellence award from the Georgia College Press Association. He earned ...
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