The history of the first aquarium dates back to ancient times, but the modern aquarium as we know it has its roots in the 19th century.

Ancient and Early Aquatic Displays

• The earliest known examples of humans keeping fish in controlled environments date back to ancient Sumerians (2500 BCE), who kept fish in artificial ponds.
• Ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Chinese also kept fish in ornamental ponds or containers. The Chinese, in particular, domesticated goldfish during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE).

Birth of the Modern Aquarium

• The first modern, glass-sided aquarium was developed in 1850 by Robert Warrington, an English chemist. He discovered that plants in a closed container could produce oxygen, which helped sustain fish.
• The term "aquarium" was coined by Philip Henry Gosse in 1854. He built the first public aquarium at the London Zoo in 1853.
• Public aquariums soon spread across Europe and America, with the first U.S. public aquarium opening in 1856 at the Barnum's American Museum.

Advancements in Aquarium Technology

• By the 20th century, advancements in filtration, lighting, and aeration allowed for more sophisticated home and public aquariums.
• Today, aquariums range from small home tanks to massive public aquariums like the Georgia Aquarium in the U.S., housing thousands of marine species.