Opening Day Ceremonies at the New York Aquarium at Coney Island

1954 architectural watercolor rendering of proposed New York Aquarium in Coney Island, including beach, boardwalk, and residential area in background.

Fairfield Osborn, president of the New York Zoological Society, calls upon Mayor Robert F. Wagner, Brooklyn Borough President John Cashmore, and Commissioner of Parks Robert Moses to speak at the opening the New York Aquarium at Coney Island.. The program concludes with a ribbon cutting by a black-footed penguin named Annie.

After the national anthem, Osborn begins the ceremony by thanking those involved in the project and calls for more support for planned expansions. "It is the beginning of an institution, which, if we can get the support which we pray for, hope for and must have, will grow into the most incomparable institution of its kind anywhere in this country, or for that matter, anywhere in the world."

Next Mayor Wagner gives a short history of New York's long-held "interest in the creatures of the sea" from a sea cow on exhibit in 1809 to the closing of Aquarium at Battery Park in 1941. He is optimistic for the next phases of construction and reiterates the city's commitment to this project.

John Cashmore welcomes Robert Moses and his wife back from a recent trip to Italy and describes him as the modern day Leonardo da Vinci of the United States, "Bob when I want something in the board of estimate, I wish you'd remember those remarks." He emphasizes the importance of building the aquarium at Coney Island to the Borough of Brooklyn, and thanks those who "put the money up." He jokes about the Mayor having to leave early because he is running for office, "So am I by the way!"

Robert Moses speaks more generally about conservation of ocean-front land along Long Island, "the errors of the past, reckless alienation of town lands followed by uncontrolled private exploitation are things of the past, but we still have the problem of recapture and rehabilitation."

He calls on the confinement of the "old Coney Island" associated with "Honky-tonks, cheap catchpenny mechanical devices, waterfront dives, raucous barkers, freak shows and artificial excitement, not that there is no place for such stuff." Moses heralds the Aquarium as the keystone in this new family-friendly beach resort.

After Robert Moses speaks, a WNYC announcer describes the melee as a penguin named Annie "cuts" the ribbon and opens the aquarium to the public. Annie bites the ribbon which has a smelt (a fish) wrapped inside.


Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection


WNYC archives id: 150510
Municipal archives id: LT7646