ReportWire

Tag: marine park

  • The Miami Seaquarium may disappear soon. See what it looked like in early days

    [ad_1]

    The days of the Miami Seaquarium look like they’re ending, with the Virginia Key site in line for redevelopment.

    The marine attraction opened in the mid-1950s, well before Disney World and other theme parks popped up in Central Florida. Along with the Parrot Jungle, now known as Jungle Island and also set for redevelopment, tourists and locals lined up to see Flipper, Lolita and Salty.

    If you visited Miami as a tourist in the 1950s and ’60s, the Seaquarium was on your must-visit list. Hotels put out brochures and even offered bus service to the marine park on the Rickenbacker Causeway.

    After Disney World opened in 1971, the star dimmed a bit for the Seaquarium, along with other Miami roadside attractions.

    But the Seaquarium has marched on despite controversies over animal treatment and the recent death of its star attraction, Lolita the Killer Whale.

    MORE: Miami Seaquarium set to close under development deal for marina, restaurants

    Let’s look back at the Seaquarium as we flip through photos in the archive:

    Jim Turner serenades the killer whales, Hugo, left, and Lolita, at the Seaquarium. with Bach sonatas on his musical saw. Turner played for 20 minutes to the attentive pair, and tagged them “a great audience.”
    Jim Turner serenades the killer whales, Hugo, left, and Lolita, at the Seaquarium. with Bach sonatas on his musical saw. Turner played for 20 minutes to the attentive pair, and tagged them “a great audience.” Miami Herald File/1979

    The entrance during the early days at the Seaquarium.
    The entrance during the early days at the Seaquarium. State Library and Archives of Florida

    Salty the Sea Lion and friends at the Miami Seaquarium.
    Salty the Sea Lion and friends at the Miami Seaquarium. Miami Herald File/1998

    Nevile Thomas gets to meet Salty the Sea Lion up close as a group form the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind visits the Seaquarium. The group of partially-sighted and blind people were taken on a tour to touch and feel some of the creatures at the park, including manatees, sharks, crabs and sea lion.
    Nevile Thomas gets to meet Salty the Sea Lion up close as a group form the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind visits the Seaquarium. The group of partially-sighted and blind people were taken on a tour to touch and feel some of the creatures at the park, including manatees, sharks, crabs and sea lion. Chuck Fadely Miami Herald File

    A camper gets up close and personal with Salty the Sea Lion.
    A camper gets up close and personal with Salty the Sea Lion. Jeffery A. Salter Miami Herald File/1996

    The dolphins show in the early years.
    The dolphins show in the early years. State Library and Archives of Florida

    Lolita the killer whale, also known as Toki, during a show in her stadium tank. She was the main attraction at Miami Seaquarium for decades.
    Lolita the killer whale, also known as Toki, during a show in her stadium tank. She was the main attraction at Miami Seaquarium for decades. Miami Herald File

    Lolita the killer whale, here being fed by one of her trainers, had lived in a tank at Miami Seaquarium since 1970.
    Lolita the killer whale, here being fed by one of her trainers, had lived in a tank at Miami Seaquarium since 1970. Miami Herald File

    ”Flipper” star Luke Halpin greets Onyx, one of the dolphins who lives in the Flipper Lagoon at the Miami Seaquarium, in 2004. Halpin and fellow “Flipper” co-star Tom Norden returned to the Seaquarium in Miami to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their show, parts of which were filmed in the same pool.
    ”Flipper” star Luke Halpin greets Onyx, one of the dolphins who lives in the Flipper Lagoon at the Miami Seaquarium, in 2004. Halpin and fellow “Flipper” co-star Tom Norden returned to the Seaquarium in Miami to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their show, parts of which were filmed in the same pool. David M. Barreda Miami Herald File / 2004

    Miami Seaquarium executive Andrew Hertz cuddles with Sundance, an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin performing in the Flipper Show.
    Miami Seaquarium executive Andrew Hertz cuddles with Sundance, an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin performing in the Flipper Show. Candace Barbot Miami Herald File / 2001

    The “Flipper” series, which ran 1964-1967, employed seven dolphins to play the lead role with Tommy Norden, left, Brian Kelly and Luke Halpin.
    The “Flipper” series, which ran 1964-1967, employed seven dolphins to play the lead role with Tommy Norden, left, Brian Kelly and Luke Halpin. Miami Herald File / NBC

    A dolphin flies high in the 1960s.
    A dolphin flies high in the 1960s. State Library and Archives of Forida

    An aerial view of the Miami Seaquarium on Virginia Key in the 1960s.
    An aerial view of the Miami Seaquarium on Virginia Key in the 1960s. State Library and Archives of Florida

    A monorail circled the Seaquarium ground through the 1970s. Unlike the monorail at Disney World, this one hung from the track.
    A monorail circled the Seaquarium ground through the 1970s. Unlike the monorail at Disney World, this one hung from the track. State Library and Archives of Florida

    Lord Gavin Astor of London, England, hand-feeds Clown, the Miami Seaquarium's high-jumping porpoise.
    Lord Gavin Astor of London, England, hand-feeds Clown, the Miami Seaquarium’s high-jumping porpoise. Miami Herald File

    Revolving shark for the Seaquarium.
    Revolving shark for the Seaquarium. L.E. Baskow Miami Herald

    Crowds at the Seaquarium.
    Crowds at the Seaquarium. Miami Herald File

    The dolphins jumping high at the Miami Seaquarium.
    The dolphins jumping high at the Miami Seaquarium. Miami Herald File

    This story was originally published September 29, 2025 at 6:29 AM.

    [ad_2]

    Miami Herald Archives

    Source link

  • Man in Brooklyn violently stabbed to death on quiet neighborhood corner | amNewYork

    Man in Brooklyn violently stabbed to death on quiet neighborhood corner | amNewYork

    [ad_1]

    NYPD Crime Scene Unit members photograph evidence on a sidewalk near the scene of a deadly stabbing in Marine Park, Brooklyn on Aug. 7, 2024.

    Photo by Lloyd Mitchell