Pump Alley

Behind the Scenes

The City of New Orleans has many streets, avenues, boulevards, and alleys steeped in history and culture, but none quite so unique as “pump alley” at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas.

This special space behind the scenes is the central water circulation system for the more than 1 million gallons of fresh and saltwater aquariums on display at the facility. The pumps, sandfilters, pipes, valves and controllers are the Aquarium’s life support, moving over 10,000 gallons per minute, and ensuring the homes of many of the more than 10,000 animals representing over 400 species on display are clean and healthy.

Ranked as one of the top five aquariums in the country, Audubon Aquarium has welcomed more than 23 million people since it opened in 1990. It is part of the Audubon Nature Institute, whose annual economic input to the region is estimated at $583 million a year.