Tourism: Oregon Coast Aquarium

Oregon Coast Aquarium: is an aquarium in Newport in the US state of Oregon. Opened in 1992, the facility sits on 23 acres (9.3 ha) along Yaquina Bay near the Pacific Ocean. The aquarium was home to Keiko, the orca who starred in the movie Free Willy, from January 1996 until September 9, 1998, when he was shipped to Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland. USA Today considers the Oregon Coast Aquarium world-class and Coastal Living magazine ranks the it among the top ten aquariums in North America. Newport business leaders proposed building an aquarium beginning in the early 1980s.