Who We Are

Texas State Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit association. As a not-for-profit organization, we publicly disclose financial statements and reports. These reports give depth to our practices, stories and accomplishments.

We are an educational resource, and environmental steward and a lead in economic development for our visitors, our community and our world. The Aquarium relies on general admissions, memberships, retail sales, event rentals and the generous support from donors to maintain its operations. Please help us in our mission and support the Texas State Aquarium.

Turtle swimming in an aquarium exhibit

Mission

The mission of the Texas State Aquarium is to engage people with animals, inspire appreciation for our seas, and support wildlife conservation.

Vision

To be a global leader in fostering support for the conservation of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

Aerial of the Texas State Aquarium

About Us

The idea for the Texas State Aquarium was conceptualized by its founders early on to focus on the species in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. The exhibits would contain representatives of the area’s main marine ecosystems. The Gulf of Mexico opened in 1990 with a commencement from former President Bush speaking to a front lawn packed full of supporting visitors. After years in the making, the Caribbean Journey, part of the original vision, opened its doors in 2017. The Caribbean Journey doubles the size of the aquarium and provides homes to an exciting collection of sea and land creatures. It is here that you can break into the mesmerizing secrets of the underwater and jungle world. For those wishing to spend time in an extraordinary place, a promising unforgettable experience awaits.

The Texas State Aquarium is the perfect platform for people and families to learn, bond and discover together. Visit us when you are considering things to do in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Our History

1969

The Junior League of Corpus Christi and the local Jaycees form a coalition creating the Gulf Coast Zoological and Botanical Society whose purpose would be to build the local aquarium.

1975

Members of Leadership Corpus Christi Alumni join in support of the project.

1978

Organization’s name changes to the Corpus Christi Aquarium Association to encourage local enthusiasm and support.

1979

Junior League donates $50,000 to launch project.

1983

Building fund increases to over $1 million, led by a $350,000 grant from the Earl C. Sams Foundation in Corpus Christi.

1984

The Brown Foundation of Houston awards a $1.5 million challenge grant to the project.

1984

The Brown Foundation of Houston awards a $1.5 million challenge grant to the project.

1985

The Texas State Legislature designates Corpus Christi’s proposed aquarium the “Official Aquarium of Texas.”

1986

Name changes to Texas State Aquarium Association (TSAA). • TSAA purchases 6.3 Acres of land on the southern tip of Corpus Christi Beach • Local voters approve a $4.4 million bond issue for the improvement of public properties surrounding the site.

1987

Name changes to Texas State Aquarium Association (TSAA). • TSAA purchases 6.3 Acres of land on the southern tip of Corpus Christi Beach • Local voters approve a $4.4 million bond issue for the improvement of public properties surrounding the site.

1988

A $3 million investment from the Houston Endowment moves the project from the design stage to final plans and ground breaking • Construction begins in September

1990

Aquarium opens its Gulf of Mexico Exhibit Building to the public on July 6, 1990.

1993

TSA becomes a federally-permitted animal rehabilitation facility.

1995

TSA becomes accredited with the AZA, American Zoo & Aquarium Association. • TSA celebrates its 5th anniversary with a Willie Nelson Concert. • Education outreach expands with the launching of the mobile exhibit Ocean in Motion. • Turtle Bend opens featuring several of the TSA’s rehabilitated sea turtles.

1996

Otter Space opens in Conservation Cove featuring North American River Otters. • TSA receives Mutual of America’s Outstanding Public-Private partnership Award for the television show, Wonders Under the Sea.

1997

TSA receives the Munson Aquatic Conservation Exhibitry Award from AZA for Ocean in Motion.

1998

TSA holds first Beach Ball Gala featuring the Beach Boys. • TSA adopts a special exhibit plan and opens Jellies: Floating Phantoms. • Coastal America, a partnership of 13 feder departments and the office of the President, designates TSA as a coastal Ecosystem Learning Center.

1999

TSA presents second special exhibit, Swamp Tales, featuring Roscoe the white alligator. • Interpretive Walkway opens.

2000

TSA opens third special exhibit, Seahorse Seatopia • TSA introduces Dollar Day, a local program designed to increase accessibility to families throughout the City. • Teacher workshops become registered with the State Board for Educator Certification.

2001

TSA breaks ground on Dolphin Bay, the largest expansion since the Grand Opening, with over $10 million in private donations raised. • Stingray Flats and Texas Trails open. 2002 • TSA opens fourth special exhibit, Oddysea. • Kids’ Port playground opens • Dolphin Bay fundraising reaches $14.7 million and TSA successfully completes the requirements of a $750,000 Kresge challenge grant.

2002

TSA opens fourth special exhibit, Oddysea. • Kids’ Port playground opens • Dolphin Bay fundraising reaches $14.7 million and TSA successfully completes the requirements of a $750,000 Kresge challenge grant.

2003

Dolphin Bay opens to rave reviews as the city welcomes “Kimo” and “Sundance.” • Environmental Discovery Center opens, featuring an expanded Weston’s Library, theBlanche Davis Moore Family Learning Center, and the Flint Hills Resources Distance Learning Studio. • TSA tops off the year with Beach Ball 2003 starring Chicago.

2004

TSA wins the 2004 Conservation and Environmental Stewardship Award for Public Awareness from the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation.

2005

TSA celebrates 15th anniversary year with the opening of its fifth special exhibit, AMAZON. • Two new Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins, “Cobie” and “Shadow”, join Dolphin Bay.

2006

TSA introduces newest exhibit, Living Shores,which interprets the Laguna Madre. • “Kai” and “DJ” join “Cobie” and “Shadow” in Dolphin Bay. • “Naiya” the anteater enters AMAZON. • Highest attendance since 1993.

2007

TSA earns accreditation from the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums for Dolphin Bay. • Wild Flight soars at TSA. The first phase of a three-year renovation is complete with the opening of the Hawn Wild Flight Theater. • New otters, Gwen and Odie, make their home at TSA. • TSA begins extensive renovations of sea turtle exhibit.

2008

Newly renovated Tortuga Cay and Otter Creek open in spring. The final phase of Conservation Cove begins, as ground is broken on Eagle Pass and Swamp Tales.

2009

Aquarium introduces newest exhibit, Eagle Pass, which houses rescued and rehabilitated hawks, owls, and other raptors.

2010

Aquarium celebrates 20th Anniversary and opens newest exhibit, Swamp Tales, featuring a 10-foot long American alligator and various species of freshwater turtles.

2011

H-E-B Splash Park and Owen’s Paleo Park open as the Aquarium’s newest attractions, replacing the Kids’ Port Playground. Aquarium sees highest attendance since opening in 1990.

2012

Aquarium opens newest exhibit, Stingray Lagoon. The exhibit’s 10,000 gallons of seawater is home to over 30 rays representing the Southern, Atlantic, and cownose species. Existing Stingray Flats exhibit undergoes transition to a Shark Touch exhibit.

2013

Aquarium introduces new Wild Flight Show at Hawn Wild Flight Theater, and new Ocean Games dolphin show at Dolphin Bay.

2014

Aquarium opens new Nearshore Experience, the facility’s most immersive indoor exhibit to date, portraying life at the shoreline, where sand dunes and mangroves meet shallow saltwater habitats. The completely renovated exhibit area allows visitors to stroll directly beneath shorebirds, like the roseate spoonbill and white ibis. • Aquarium becomes one of only six U.S. aquariums to achieve Charity Navigator’s prestigious 4-Star rating signaling good governance, sound fiscal management, accountability and transparency. • Aquarium announces new 65,000 expansion project called the Campaign Caribbean. The expansion will more than double the size of TSA, and will include a Mayan-themed Caribbean wing complete with cenote, a 40,000-gallon Caribbean shark exhibit, a redesigned entrance to the facility, and a whole new wing for events and convention-style meetings. Groundbreaking is 11/14, and the expected finish in Spring 2017.

2015

Aquarium celebrates 25th anniversary of public opening on July 6th. • Aquarium welcomes its 12 millionth visitor on July 13th. • Aquarium opens new Saving Sharks exhibit. With support from OCEARCH, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, the exhibit was designed to capture the hearts and minds of budding conservationists and lifelong shark fans, alike.

2016

Aquarium opens Aquatic Nursery, offering guest a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of sustainable aquaculture. The nursery allows visitors to watch the birth and growth cycles of egg casings and juvenile cephalopods and jellies. • Aquarium opens new Tentacles exhibit, presented by the Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation, which provides guests with a close up look at several jellyfish species, as well as cephalopods, such as octopus and cuttlefish species.

2017

Aquarium opens Caribbean Journey, the largest expansion in its 27-year history

2018

Aquarium restaurant, Pepsi Shoreline Grill, receives first “Ocean-Friendly Restaurant” Award in Texas. • Aquarium hosts first “Sensory Sensitive Sunday” for families facing autism spectrum disorders and other sensory challenges. • Aquarium welcomes young male Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth named “Chico.”

2019

Aquarium welcomes “Phil” and “Lil’, rescued green sea turtles, to Caribbean Sea exhibit. • Aquarium announces it was named as the #4 Aquarium in North America by USA TODAY, as chosen by online voters. • Aquarium welcomes 14 millionth guest since opening in 1990.

2020

Orphaned North American River otter pup, ”Arthur,” admitted to Aquarium’s Wildlife Rescue program. • Aquarium announces it was named as the #4 Aquarium in North America by USA TODAY, as chosen by online voters. • Aquarium proudly welcomes Fisher, a North American River Otter. • Aquarium announces that it will receive a $2.5-million grant from the Port of Corpus Christi to support the vital work of the Aquarium’s Wildlife Rescue Center and Program.

2021

Aquarium admits record-breaking number of cold-stunned sea turtles during Winter Storm Uri to the Wildlife Rescue Center. • Aquarium proudly welcomes two young, sister ocelots named “Milla” and “Leeloo,” who arrived from the ABQ BioPark in Albuquerque, New Mexico in late March 2021 as part of the ocelot Species Survival Plan (SSP). • Aquarium announces funding milestone of $13 million raised for the Aquarium’s new Port of Corpus Christi Center for Wildlife Rescue at the Texas State Aquarium. • Aquarium breaks ground on new Port of Corpus Christi Center for Wildlife Rescue at the Texas State Aquarium.

Accreditations

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science and recreation. As part of AZA’s mandatory accreditation process, AZA members like the Texas State Aquarium meet rigorous professional standards for animal welfare, veterinary care, wildlife conservation, scientific research, education, expert staffing and safety.

Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting an institution dedicated to providing excellent care for animals and a better future for all living things.

Annual Reports

2020 Annual Report

2019 Annual Report

2018 Annual Report

2017 Annual Report

2016 Annual Report

2015 Annual Report

Financial Statements and Tax Returns

2024 Financial Statements

2024 IRS Form 990 &990-T

2023 Financial Statements

2023 IRS Form 990 & 900 -T

2022 Financial Statements

2022 IRS Form 990 & 990-T

2021 Financial Statements

2021 IRS Form 990 & 990-T

2020 Financial Statements

2020 IRS Form 990 & 990-T

Inquiries

Texas State Aquarium
2710 N. Shoreline Boulevard
Corpus Christi, TX 78402
361-881-1200
Contact Us

Leadership

Texas State Aquarium Facility Leaders

Jesse Gilbert, President & CEO

Jennifer Vela, Chief Government Affairs & Marketing Officer

Justin Sefcik, Chief Operating Officer

Sarah Zigmond, Chief Wildlife Officer

Emily McCauley, Chief of Staff

Julio Flores, Jr., CPA, Senior Vice President of Business Operations & Chief Financial Officer

Cheryl Wolfe, CPA, Director of Finance

Emma Gilbert, Director of Animal Care

Jeff Vlach, Director of Information Technology

Kara Hahn, Director of Aquarium Operations

Nicole Andrade, SHRM-SCP, Director of Administration and Human Resources

Nicole Gaertner, Director of Education

2026 Oceans & Wildlife Institute Board of Trustees

Executive Committee

Catherine Hilliard, Board Chair
Dr. Osbert Blow, Board Vice Chair

Stephen Raffaele, Board Secretary
Darcy Schroeder, Board Past Chair

Patt Hawn Wallace, Board Treasurer

Trustees

Charlie Zahn, Jr.
Dr. Brian Gulley
Wayne Squires
Rob Hall
Dr. Kelly Miller
Mike Pusley
Elizabeth Chu Richter
Dr. Larry McKinney

Kristen Sterett
Mark LaRue
Jeff Pollack
Lindsey Lomax
Andy Saenz
Rajan Ahuja
John Dorn
Larry Urban

Matt Barr
Joe Henkel
Nelda Martinez
Mary Polson
Keleigh Sasser
Anne Thurwalker
Nathan Taggert
Mark Meyer
Larry Meyers

Trustee Emeritus

R.C. Allen
Charles C. Butt
Thomas E. Dobson
John F. Dorn
Judith Hawley
Bruce Hawn

Gloria Hicks
Bill Maxwell, Jr.
Julie McNeil
J. Ted Oakley
Celika Storm

Rich D. Tuttle
Larry Urban
Charlie Zahn, Jr.
Arthur W. Zeitler

Advisory

Sam L. Susser
Donna Lawson

Texas State Aquarium Committee

Matt Barr, Chair
Ben Donnell, Vice Chair
Loren Rock
Jyoti Patel
Christina Hunter Villeda
Charlie Hicks
Amanda Hinojosa
Aleisha Kolb
Mark LaRue
Judith Talavera

Past Presidents

1978-81   Arthur W. Zeitler/Lillian A. Murray
1981-82   Lillian A. Murray
1982-83   Arthur W. Zeitler
1983-84   Paula Butt
1984-85   Elinor Donnell
1985-89   John F. Dorn
1989-90   Thomas V. Shockley, III
1990-91   Luther Jones
1991-92   Stephen W. Sullivan
1992-93   Gary Miglicco
1993-94   Charles Wade
1994-95   Gloria Hicks
1995-96   Paul Pearson, III
1996-97   Gene Urban
1997-98   R. B. “Randy” Cutlip
1998-99   Sylvia A. Whitmore
1999-01   Thomas R. “Tom” Dobson
2001-02   R. Scott Heitkamp
2002-03 Thomas Dobson
2003-04   Mark Meyer
2004-05   Eddie L. Garcia
2005-07   Bruce Hawn
2008-09   Rich D. Tuttle
2009-11   Judy Hawley
2011-12   Lee Jordan
2013-14  Deneece Squires
2015-2016 Larry Urban
2017-2018 Rob Hall
2019-2020 Julie Buckley
2021-2022 Charlie Zahn, Jr.
2023-2024 Darcy Schroeder