State of the County: Exciting announcements about the brand-new aquarium
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – During his 2026 State of the County address, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon shared several important announcements regarding the aquarium project at Syracuse’s Inner Harbor.
“One of the things that truly sets this aquarium apart is its depth” County Executive McMahon said. “Our main habitat will be nearly 33 feet deep, with an underwater tunnel running right through it. When visitors walk through that space, they won’t just be looking at an exhibit, they’ll be stepping into what we believe will be the deepest underwater tunnel experience in any public aquarium in the United States.”
The acrylic panels needed for the tunnel are among the most complex ever fabricated. They’re almost 18 inches thick and curved in ways that will make visitors feel like they are inside the habitat itself. This is worldclass work, the kind of craftsmanship that pushes boundaries.
County Executive McMahon announced one of the signature animals that will call this place home: the sand tiger shark. These are some of the ocean’s top predators. With rows of visible, movielike teeth, they look fierce — but they’re actually calm, powerful, and an essential part of a healthy ocean ecosystem.
“They’re incredible animals, and they will be a defining experience for our visitors” the County Executive said.
The aquarium will also be home to what’s believed to be the largest doctor fish touch experience in the world.
County Executive McMahon also announced academic and research partnerships with SUNY ESF and The MOST. He highlighted the many unique opportunities the aquarium offers for TV and film production, calling it “a unique piece of economic Infrastructure.”
“We are transforming a site that was once one of the most polluted in the country into a place dedicated to conservation, education, and community” the County Executive said. “It’s a story about resilience, about progress, and about the future we’re building here together. Outside of our political and media echo chambers, the excitement for this project is real, and it is growing.”