North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island

The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is located in Manteo, NC, nine miles from the Atlantic coastline in Nags Head. The 61,000 square-foot facility is sited on 16 acres overlooking the Croatan Sound and houses over 2,200 animals. More than 280,000 guests visit the aquarium each year to see a large array of sharks, learn about sea turtle conservation, participate in a variety of programs, enjoy the beauty of the area, and learn why North Carolina's waterways are so special. As an educational attraction, we are focused on “inspiring appreciation and conservation of our aquatic environments.” The Aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and in 2015 was awarded the AZA Quarter Century Award for maintaining accreditation continuously for 25 years or more.

The North Carolina Aquariums and Jennette’s Pier are dedicated to animals in our care and in the wild. We recognize the challenges threatening animals locally and globally. We are committed to learning more and taking action through research, fieldwork, education, and the daily efforts of our team members. Initiatives underway focus on threatened and endangered species including the Carolina gopher frog, sand tiger sharks and sea turtles. In addition, as an accredited-member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and a partner in SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction, we work diligently to keep the most vulnerable animals from disappearing and protect them for future generations.