Oklahoma Aquarium, Tulsa

Located in Jenks, just south of Tulsa, the Oklahoma Aquarium is a 72,000-square-foot indoor facility offering an immersive dive into aquatic life. Since its opening on May 28, 2003, the aquarium has grown into a beloved destination for families, school groups, and marine life enthusiasts. Its crown jewel? The world’s largest exhibit of bull sharks is showcased in a dramatic walk-through tunnel that lets visitors see these powerful predators swim overhead and all around - safely and up close.

The aquarium houses over 10,000 animals and 500 species, including loggerhead sea turtles, zebra sharks, otters, a giant Pacific octopus, and the vibrant humphead wrasse. Exhibits explore diverse habitats such as Oklahoma rivers, Ozark streams, coral reefs, and deep-sea environments. There are also hands-on experiences like interactive touch and feed tanks, daily feed shows, and behind-the-scenes tours, all geared toward the aquarium’s mission: to educate and inspire the conservation of our aquatic world through interactive discovery.

Originally proposed for Tulsa, the aquarium project found a champion in the City of Jenks. Key figures like former mayor Mike Tinker, city manager Randy Ewing, and local philanthropists helped secure funding through private donations and public taxes - a combination that made the facility possible. Further support came from Vision 2025, a one-cent county sales tax initiative, and even a special Oklahoma Aquarium license plate, with proceeds benefiting the institution.

Architecturally designed by SPARKS and built by the Ross Group, the Oklahoma Aquarium once also hosted the Karl and Beverly White National Fishing Tackle Museum, which featured 30,000 historic pieces before its removal in 2010. In 2003, Discovery Channel’s Nigel Marven featured the bull shark tank during Shark Week, placing the aquarium on the global radar.

Rain or shine, the Oklahoma Aquarium offers an all-weather adventure through some of the world’s most fascinating aquatic ecosystems - all just minutes from downtown Tulsa.