National Aquarium in Baltimore: A Photo Essay

I’ve been to the National Aquarium in Baltimore more times than I can count. It’s always been a place to learn about and see so many of the creatures that I would never have the chance to otherwise. However, once my partner and I had kids to share the experience with, the aquarium became a sanctuary. A place for our children to wonder, dream, and stare starry-eyed at a world much larger than their home.

When they got older and showed more interest in animals than in Transformers or Hot Wheels, we were outside in the woods or at the aquarium searching for “critters.” My daughter especially has been always drawn to everything living. Everything. Insects, spiders, snakes, whales, rabbits, frogs, birds, all were awe-inspiring and special. I would venture to say that 90 percent of the books on her shelf are animal-related education or at least star some sort of anthropomorphic creature.

With that in mind, and since I have been taking pictures at the aquarium whenever I go, I thought for this photo essay I would ask my daughter, Mary, to join me and ask her a few questions about one of her happy places.

Joe Cardamone: Have you seen Dad’s pictures from the aquarium? What are your overall thoughts?

Mary Cardamone: They are creative I like how some of them you take out the color and they’re cool.

JC: The black and white ones?

MC: Yeah, I like the black and white ones.

JC: Which picture from the aquarium is your favorite?

MC: The [emerald boa] snake one.

JC: Why do you like that one?

MC: It’s a big picture and you can see the scales and the way it’s coiled up. It’s very cool how you took it.

JC: Do you remember your first trip to the aquarium?

MC: We went with Nana and Papa, right? Yeah, it was with Nana and Papa and I remember seeing all the fish, it was really exciting. I love animals so much.

JC: What about the aquarium makes you happy or excited to visit?

MC: I think it’s because there was a turtle there they took in to help. It was hit by a boat and they took it in to help it. They take really good care of the animals and help them.

JC: Does going to the aquarium make you think of the animals in the rest of the world?

MC: It makes me think that maybe we should stop hurting their habitats. When animals are in the wild, people keep ruining their habitats.

JC: If you got to go in the water or spend some time with any of the animals in the aquarium which animal, which would it be? Why?

MC: All of them, if I had enough time. If I have to pick one, I think it would be the snake. It’s because I like snakes. But if I had enough time, I would hang out with all of them.

JC: What is something you would like other kids or adults to think about when it comes to wildlife and sea animals?

MC: If they go chopping down trees or bringing plastic on a boat, they need to make sure the plastic stays on the boat or keep it somewhere it doesn’t fly off. If they have to cut down a tree, they should replant another one.

JC: Any other thoughts about the aquarium or animals?

MC: I think the aquarium is really good and I love going there.