Photos: Aletha Lang

After trying to figure out how on earth we were going to unload and store the huge 15 x 8 foot acrylic aquarium window we had shipped from the Steinhart Aquarium courtesy of our donors Arnold and Dianne Gazarian, Steve Salcedo and the folks at San Joaquin Glass came to the rescue and used their crane, straps and professional expertise to lift the window from the transport truck and carry it into their facility for storage. There were some tense moments as the straps strained with the tremendous weight, but the operation went off without a hitch.

The penguin window is carried away to storage.

When we are ready to use this beautiful window in our new Aquarium, we are confident it will be in great shape and able to once again provide a glimpse into an exciting aquatic habitat to the delight of our visitors.

Thanks to the Salcedo family and all the people at San Joaquin Glass!

Load of tank pieces behind Steinhart Aquarium's temporary Howard Street location ready for transport to Fresno. Photo: Peter Lang

The largest, about 20 feet in diameter, holds approximately 14,000 gallons of water and one, the Steinhart’s former penguin exhibit, has a 3-inch thick acrylic window measuring nearly 15 x 8 feet weighing in at approximately 2,000 lbs! Some of the other exhibit tanks relocated include a 7,800 gallon tank, a 3,600 gallon tank, three 2,000 gallon tanks, a 718 gallon acrylic tank, two 11 foot long triangular tanks and a 1,450 gallon former piranha tank.

These tanks will make great homes for the aquatic animals we will be acquiring for Fresno’s future Aquarium!

For more photos, click here.

Beginning 5 years ago, Aletha and I visited the Steinhart and were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the former building in Golden Gate Park by then director John McCosker. He was very interested in our plans for Fresno’s Aquarium and pledged support in any way possible. In December 2007, the Steinhart’s new director, Chris Andrews, reinforced the Academy’s support of the Institute with a presentation of the Steinhart’s plans here in Fresno (Clovis, actually) as one of our Marine Life Presentation series.

Fast forward to 2008 and a brand-new Academy and Steinhart Aquarium have just opened in Golden Gate Park and the temporary exhibit for the fish collection on Howard Street has closed. The tanks that were housing the collection are now empty and rather than go to a landfill, a group of volunteers from the Institute will be loading them onto big-rig trucks generously donated by Wildwood Express and Cerutti & Sons which will transport them to Fresno.

Be sure to check back here to follow the exciting progress!