There is an old city owned building in downtown Spokane, right on the Spokane river.  The building used to belong to the YMCA and sits along a prime piece of real estate… there were/are a number of propositions for this building including it being torn down and the land becoming part of Riverfront Park as well as commercial development efforts that would include condominium/loft type spaces.  In and among all of the ideas for the site there has been a grass roots group that would like to see an aquarium in Spokane… perhaps this building… perhaps some other location.

There is just something calming, soothing, mysterious, peaceful, and awesome about the underwater world.  People are given opportunities to experience through film / tv / video (IMAX or as in the example above YouTube) but there is just something about being immersed in the experience.  It would offer a great education opportunity for people of all ages, it could provide a great research facility, it could be an additional tourist attraction for the tourism and convention bureau, it could be a great volunteer opportunity, it could be a retreat from the hectic day to day activities.   Is the old Y building the right place?  Probably not but it shouldn’t hinder the grass roots movement to bring this reality to the Spokane area.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7deClndzQw

The above video of the 2nd largest aquarium in the world (in Japan) is one that I found to be absolutely awesome to watch…(Shot by Jon Rawlinson) I launch it in full screen pretty regularly and noticed that it is now on the Facebook page for the Spokane Aquarium.  I love how the people are just little silhouettes and how we really are miniscule and just a small component of what is LIFE on this planet.

What are your thoughts on and aquarium in Spokane?  Would you support it?