- May 4, 2024
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Researchers from the Georgia Aquarium recently traveled to New Jersey to check on the Marineland archives that are being held there.
The group was welcomed with a great sigh of relief when they discovered that all the archives were in good shape. In addition to what they knew was there, the group even found some 4-track cartridges, which they were able to listen to after tracking down a player.
“It was like listening to a little piece of history,” said Jessica Fontana, Georgia Aquarium public relations specialist.
Marineland, founded June 23, 1938 as Marine Studios, will be celebrating its 75th anniversary next year, and the trip also served as a way of collecting archives for the celebration.
Marine Studios was a pioneering underwater filming studio and museum inspired by educational innovation, designed to house a myriad of sea life. Serving as the world’s first oceanarium, Marineland was conceived to provide its guests with a window to the ocean.
Having acquired Marineland in 2011, the staff at the Georgia Aquarium is still learning the true historical value of site, which is named on the National Register of Historic Places
“It’s amazing to us to see how much documentation there is and how valuable that is to ensuring that marine mammals thrive in their setting,” said Dr. Brian Davis, vice president of education and training at the Georgia Aquarium and Marineland Dolphin Adventure.” Every box was a new piece of history that was being unveiled to us.”
The staff will use the new material found to tell the full story of Marineland’s history during 75th anniversary events.
“Marineland and the Georgia Aquarium are just really excited to tell the story to help people to understand that Flagler County really does have a gem there,” Davis said. “It has played a very big role in shaping what we know of aquatic organism.”
