• The aquatic environments in the original aquarium contain more than 1.5 million gallons of water.

• To fill the aquarium’s saltwater exhibits, Shedd Aquarium shipped 1 million gallons of ocean water 1,600 miles by rail from the Florida Keys. Between December 1929 and late spring 1930, 160 train cars of seawater were delivered.

• Shedd received its last shipment of ocean water in 1970. From then on, the aquarium made its own seawater with synthetic chemicals. Today, Shedd makes about 3 million gallons of seawater a year to replenish its exhibits.

• From 1930 until 1957, many of the fishes Shedd exhibited arrived on board the Nautilus, a custom-built Pullman train car. During this time, the Nautilus traveled about 20,000 miles every year. Fully loaded, it carried 4,500 gallons of water. Built at cost by Pullman Car Works in Chicago for about $30,000 and fitted with tanks, pumps, air compressors, electric refrigeration coils and steam heat for another $10,000, the manufacturer stated that it was doubtful any railroad car so technical had ever been built.

• Shedd’s next railcar, the Nautilus II, was retired in 1975 and donated to the Monticello Railway Museum near Champaign, IL. The car is still on exhibit today.

 

Kathy McLeister

Theatre Historical Society of America

Elmhurst, IL