Visitors will leave the St. Louis Aquarium with a greater understanding of the planet's rivers, oceans and aquatic life.
– Tami Brown, executive director of the St. Louis Aquarium

The highly-anticipated St. Louis Aquarium, designed by PGAV Destinations, has opened its doors at the city's Union Station, a former train station and National Historic Landmark that has been converted to become a mixed-use entertainment destination.

Among Union Station's features are its Grand Hall, which features original terrazzo flooring, green-glazed terracotta bricks and stained glass windows, and the St. Louis Union Station Hotel, which still offers some of the station's original – albeit updated – hotel rooms.

The two-storey aquarium is housed in what was the retail hall of the 500,000 sq ft (46,451 sq m) facility. It spans 120,000 sq ft (11,148 sq m) and is home to more than 13,000 aquatic animals from fresh- and saltwater environments around the world.

Aiming to combine conservation with state-of-the-art technology, animal care and education, the aquarium offers a number of one-of-a-kind experiences, including a 3D virtual reality train that will serve as an entry point for visitors and celebrates the history of Union Station.

Visitors also come face-to-face with more than 60 sharks and stingrays, housed in a 250,000gal (1.1 million litre) acrylic tank with J walls that curve over guests' heads.

Tami Brown, executive director of the St. Louis Aquarium, said: "Visitors will leave the St. Louis Aquarium with wet hands and a greater understanding of the planet's rivers, oceans and aquatic life. They will be able to feed turtles and stingrays and interact with invertebrate animals in our touch tanks."

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