The nearly $104 million Harborview Aquarium funded mostly by Onondaga County will not open until sometime before Christmas due to a delay, Deputy County Executive Brian Donnelly told the Legislature’s Facilities Committee on Tuesday.
A main piece of acrylic designed for a large tank encountered delays coming from Italy, where it was manufactured, and once it arrived in the U.S., had to be shipped on a barge up the Erie Canal to the Syracuse Inner Harbor, Donnelly said.
“Some of those challenges made us alter the schedule a little bit, so it will be a fall 2026 opening,” he said.
Pressed for a date by legislators, Donnelly said it will open between Sept. 21 and Dec. 21.
The nearly 80,000-square-foot building will contain 600,000 gallons of salt and freshwater tanks containing 297 different types of saltwater animals and 74 freshwater animals, Donnelly said. The site will feature 19 “signature events,” including five touch exhibits, meaning that visitors will be able to interact with the animals. It will also have a classroom and event center, he said.
“Construction is ongoing. It’s going very well,” Donnelly said.
Officials are still reviewing admission price structures for children, students, veterans, families and season passes.
“Our pricing will be very reasonable,” Donnelly said.