Photos: Take a tour of the newly renovated Audubon Aquarium, with the insectarium addition
The $41 million renovation of the Audubon Aquarium includes the completely redesigned insectarium, a butterfly garden, a walkthrough exhibit of wading birds that includes two sloths and a large tortoise, and a reconfigured Gulf of Mexico tank that can be viewed from above as well as the sides.
It reopens to the public on June 8. Learn more about the renovation.
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A green living wall covered in plants inside the main entrance to the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 as final preparations are made to reopen after an extensive renovation. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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A giant mural by artist Patrick Maxcy on the outside of the renovated Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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Audubon Aquarium prepares to reopen after extensive renovation on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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Part of the new entrance to the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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A newly added Inca Tern inside the Amazon Rainforest exhibit at the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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A butterfly with wings that mimic the head of a snake with defensive features what looks like a mouth and eye inside the renovated Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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Mural artist Patrick Maxcy works on a giant display outside the renovated Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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Magnifying glass helps bring out the details of insects inside the new insectarium at the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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A wider platform for the white alligator at the renovated Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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King Midas, a 300-pound green sea turtle, swims at the surface of the renovated Gulf of Mexico exhibit inside the renovated Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. This area at the top of the tank, which was previously closed to the public, can now be accessed with unobstructed views. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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A main hallway inside the insectarium at the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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New chairs for an immersive virtual reality experience inside the renovated Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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Curator Zack Lemann installs an eastern Hercules beetle into a display at the new insectarium at the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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Inside the new insectarium at the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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Waterfalls inside the Amazon Rainforest exhibit at the renovated Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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The Amazon Rainforest exhibit at the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans has cleared more open space to allow room for birds to fly and be seen on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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Bug art inside the insectarium at the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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New signage and entrance areas inside the renovated Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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The penguin exhibit inside the renovated Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. This area was slightly redesigned to allow easier movement for the penguins. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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New signage inside the bayou exhibit inside the renovated Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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High definition interactive video displays highlight Louisiana people and places inside the renovated Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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A giant blue crawfish display inside new insectarium at the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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An eastern Hercules beetle is installed in the new insectarium at the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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Inside the new insectarium at the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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A new video installation inside the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans features monarch butterflies and fireflies that follow hand and body motion as you stand in front of it on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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A new large video wall inside the main entrance area to the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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Crews work on the new entrance to the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 as final preparations are made to reopen after an extensive renovation. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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A green living wall covered in plants inside the main entrance to the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 as final preparations are made to reopen after an extensive renovation. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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High definition interactive video displays highlight Louisiana people and places inside the renovated Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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Crews work on the landscaping in front of the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 as final preparations are made to reopen after an extensive renovation. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
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The location where the aquarium and the insectarium split inside the renovated Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)