We've had over 300,000 people since it opened. We're very pleased with it. People have already come from all over the world - Japan, Europe, Mexico. It's not just the typical snowbirds from Michigan.

It's more than public relations. We really are the kind of people who believe we can ultimately save the planet.

The people who live inside the country tend to know the least [about aquatic sea life]. They may never have seen dolphins or sunsets over the ocean. So it's exactly the reason why an aquarium needs to be the middle of the country, to educate the citizenry.

We tried to use music and drama -- theater as well as science -- to achieve that connection.

It's not a guessing game. Most aquariums are linear — you walk on one path, one way. We chose to be nonlinear. You come into a central area, and then you make the choice of where you want to go.

It's not a guessing game. Most aquariums are linear — you walk on one path, one way. We chose to be nonlinear. You come into a central area, and then you make the choice of where you want to go.