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.
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.” Miami Herald File/1979
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. 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. Chuck Fadely Miami Herald File
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. 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. 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. 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. David M. Barreda Miami Herald File / 2004
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. Miami Herald File / NBC
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. 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. State Library and Archives of Florida
Lord Gavin Astor of London, England, hand-feeds Clown, the Miami Seaquarium’s high-jumping porpoise. Miami Herald File
Revolving shark for the Seaquarium. L.E. Baskow Miami Herald
Crowds at the Seaquarium. Miami Herald File
The dolphins jumping high at the Miami Seaquarium. Miami Herald File
This story was originally published September 29, 2025 at 6:29 AM.
