While well attended in those opening months, construction delays resulted in a loss of around 30% of anticipated revenues that year.

In 2002, Mayor Gary Doty appointed a task force to improve the facility's long-term viability.

The company eliminated 2/3 of aquarium staff and cut costs, bringing it back from the immediate threat of permanent closure.

Under successive declining years of attendance, Ripley's ended its relationship with the Aquarium in 2007.

An office area at the rear of the first floor has been cleared out to host conferences, birthday parties and other pre-arranged events.

The 85,000-US-gallon (320,000 L) Isle Royale is the main exhibit located in the very center of the building, and it extends to both the first and second floors allowing visitors to view it from many different angles.

It contains a variety of Minnesota native fish including perch, panfish, trout, lake sturgeon, and gar.

Great Lakes Aquarium acquired Agate and Ore through a special program to relocate otters that might otherwise have been exterminated as "nuisance animals".

Opened in 2016, Unsalted Seas explores large lakes of the world and the animals that call them home.

Opened in 2019, Raptor Ridge is home to a Bald Eagle, Bogey, and a Turkey Vulture, Horus, both of which are non-releasable.

This intriguing attraction explores camouflage, coloring, mimicry and other visual tricks and behaviors that help sea creatures and land animals hide in plain sight.