If you're looking for an unforgettable underwater adventure in Texas, Moody Gardens Aquarium Pyramid in Galveston should be at the top of your list. This spectacular blue-glass pyramid structure houses one of the most impressive aquatic experiences in the entire Southwest.
With 1.5 million gallons of water and more than 10,000 marine animals, the Aquarium Pyramid has been captivating visitors since 1990. Guests journey through five distinct ocean regions: the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, South Pacific, North Pacific, and the Caribbean. Each exhibit highlights different marine sanctuaries and conservation messages that underscore the vital importance of our oceans.
"The Aquarium Pyramid is one of the largest and most fascinating aquariums in Texas," explains Greg Whittaker, animal husbandry manager at Moody Gardens. "You can see and learn about everything from penguins, to sharks to seals as well as thousands of species of fish and plant life."
Ever wondered what life looks like around an offshore oil platform? The Gulf of Mexico Rig Exhibit showcases this unique ecosystem through a stunning 30,000-gallon, two-story aquarium featuring a 23-foot scale model oil production platform.
These manmade structures serve as artificial reefs, providing attachment surfaces for countless organisms that create thriving underwater communities throughout the Gulf. During presentations, you can even communicate with divers as they explore the exhibit, making for an interactive and educational experience.
Moody Gardens is home to over 100 penguins across two incredible habitats. The South Atlantic Penguin Habitat houses cold-weather species including King, Gentoo, Chinstrap, Rockhopper, and Macaroni penguins.
The Aquarium also features the Humboldt Penguin Habitat, showcasing these charming warm-climate penguins from Southern Hemisphere waters ranging from the Antarctic Pole to the Equator. Together, these exhibits provide visitors with an unforgettable opportunity to observe the diversity of penguin species up close.
Your Caribbean journey begins at the Mangrove Lagoon, where you can reach into the water and touch Cownose Stingrays as they glide through the stilt roots that mimic their natural habitat. Knowledgeable naturalists are always nearby to answer questions about these vital ecosystems. A second touch tank lets you get hands-on with small fish, Sea Stars, Hermit Crabs, Pencil Urchins, and other fascinating invertebrates.
The Flower Garden Banks Exhibit brings attention to a hidden treasure located just 115 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. Developed in partnership with the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, this exhibit showcases one of the healthiest reef systems in the Gulf and Caribbean regions, featuring Brain, Star, and Elkhorn corals among others.
The centerpiece of the Caribbean section is the breathtaking one-million-gallon exhibit where sharks, rays, and tropical fish swim overhead as you walk through an underwater tunnel. Adding to the immersive atmosphere is The Pride, a 19th-century rum-runner shipwreck replica inspired by vessels sailed by legendary Galveston pirate Jean Lafitte. The installation was quite an undertaking—divers spent 68.5 hours underwater, assembling the ship from approximately 75 individual pieces.
Throughout the Caribbean Exhibit, you can watch in-water presentations by Moody Gardens divers, who are able to take and answer questions while swimming among the marine life.
The North Pacific Gallery brings the rugged western coastline to life with playful seals and sea lions sharing space with kelp forest inhabitants like Leopard Sharks and long-lived Rockfish.
Specialized jewel aquariums highlight the coastal surge zone, feature the ingenious Giant Pacific Octopus, and reveal the mysterious deep-water coral communities that serve as nursery habitats for many commercial fish species.
The Jellyfish Gallery is a mesmerizing display of soft-bodied predators enhanced with lights, sounds, and textures that bring these graceful creatures to life. The South Pacific Biome showcases incredible diversity from the epicenter of coral reef evolution, with vibrant corals, invertebrates, fishes, and sharks filling carefully recreated niche habitats.
One unique feature is the working conservation lab, where you can watch aquarium staff perform essential daily functions like working in the nursery, conducting water quality tests, performing necropsies, and growing algae as a food source. It's a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to maintain a world-class aquarium.
One of the most memorable aspects of visiting the Aquarium Pyramid is the opportunity for hands-on interactions. The Mangrove Lagoon touch tank lets you get up close with Cownose Stingrays as they swim through the water, while knowledgeable naturalists are on hand to answer your questions. There's also a second touch tank where you can interact with small fish, Sea Stars, Hermit Crabs, Pencil Urchins, and other invertebrates. These hands-on experiences allow you to cross the water-air border and connect with marine life in a way that creates lasting memories.
Throughout the day, you can also watch in-water presentations by Moody Gardens divers who swim among the marine animals and are able to answer questions from guests while in the exhibits.
With more than 10,000 marine animals calling the Aquarium Pyramid home, there's no shortage of incredible creatures to discover. Here are some visitor favorites you won't want to miss:
Behind the scenes at the Aquarium Pyramid, dedicated staff work daily in the conservation lab to maintain the health and beauty of the exhibits. What makes this special is that guests can watch and engage with aquarium staff as they perform essential functions right before your eyes.
You'll see them working in the coral nursery, performing aquarium water quality tests, conducting necropsies, and growing algae as a food source for the marine animals. It's a fascinating glimpse into the science and care that goes into maintaining a world-class aquarium, and staff are happy to answer questions about their work.
Each exhibit at Moody Gardens Aquarium Pyramid combines conservation messages with spectacular displays, emphasizing the vital importance of our oceans and the marine sanctuaries that protect them. It's an experience designed to inspire wonder, build empathy, and connect visitors with the incredible diversity of ocean habitats around the world.
Ready to dive in? For more information about Moody Gardens, call 409-744-4673 or visit www.moodygardens.org.
Moody Gardens is a public, non-profit educational destination utilizing nature in the advancement of rehabilitation, conservation, recreation, and research.
As a photographer, it’s important to get the visuals right while establishing your online presence. Having a unique and professional portfolio will make you stand out to potential clients. The only problem? Most website builders out there offer cookie-cutter options — making lots of portfolios look the same.
That’s where a platform like Webflow comes to play. With Webflow you can either design and build a website from the ground up (without writing code) or start with a template that you can customize every aspect of. From unique animations and interactions to web app-like features, you have the opportunity to make your photography portfolio site stand out from the rest.
So, we put together a few photography portfolio websites that you can use yourself — whether you want to keep them the way they are or completely customize them to your liking.
Here are 12 photography portfolio templates you can use with Webflow to create your own personal platform for showing off your work.
%20(1).avif)
