Changing Exhibits

Here Be Dragons!

January 20- September 2, 2018
Included​​ with Aquarium admission

Here Be Dragons​, the Aquarium's newest changing exhibit, features three realms where guests can explore how dragons have influenced certain cultures and time periods. The first dragon realm is the Asian realm, which features dragons' prominence in Asian culture. Dragons are a part of the Chinese zodiac, but how much do you really know about them? Take the test in the Asian Dragons quiz or get a picture of the Chinese Parade Dragon. There's even a station that talks about the positive view of dragons in Asian culture.

Continue your journey and you'll see the Medieval period. With castles and carts set around, you'll be transported to a time where dragons were feared. Were they guarding the castle or the treasure within? Did they swoop down and scoop up unsuspecting people? Learn about dragons during this time and play with the puppet theater and dragon catapult.

The last realm takes you back in time to explore the fossil record. Explore the roots of the dragon myth through paleontology and become a dragon explorer in the Dino Dig. Or, look at a skull cast of the real dinosaur named after a famous wizarding series: Dracorex hogwartsia. ​The connection between dragons and books doesn't end there. The Hungarian Horntail Library will introduce readers of all ages to books about these mythical beasts.​

​​Here Be Dragons is organized by the Potawatomi Zoo and produced by Build 4 Impact, Inc. All rights reserved.

Major Exhibits

Bay & Ocean Pavilion

• Harbor Seals
• Restless Planet:
  • Komodo Dragons
  • Red Sea Tunnel
  • Tomistoma Crocodiles
• Light Tower Aquarium with sea turtles
• Norfolk Canyon Aquarium featuring sharks
• Ray Touch Pool
• Chesapeake Bay Aquarium (under renovation)

Marsh Pavilion

• North American river otter exhibit
• Snakes
• Blue crab corner exhibit
• Macro-marsh exhibit

Nature Trail

Enjoy this 1/3 mile walk along scenic Owls Creek connecting the Aquarium's two buildings. With outlook posts and sweeping views of the protected salt marsh, the Nature Trail is a beautiful walk through the woods.

Oyster Reef

Oysters provide a valuable resource to the marine environment, improving the water quality and serving as a protective habitat for juvenile fish and other animals.

In mid-2015, a demonstration oyster reef was created at the Aquarium and stocked with over 18,000 juvenile oysters raised by Old Donation Center School, Princess Anne Middle School, and New Castle Elementary School. The oyster reef includes an intertidal section with 30 feet of natural oyster shell, 30 feet of oyster castles, and 30 feet of undisturbed mud flat, as well as a large subtidal section of natural shell bounded by a fringing reef of mounded shells.

You can see our oyster reef, which also offers a unique educational experience, from the scenic overlook on the Nature Trail. Special thanks to the Rudee Inlet Foundation for funding the oyster reef project, and to Lynnhaven River Now and the Crystal Club​ for their help and support with design and installation.