Warren G. Bille, aquarist, inspected the arrangement of the tanks which he had prepared for the greatly expanded Point Defiance Aquarium which opened its doors on Sunday, April 25, 1937 for the first time that year. The aquarium had tripled in size during the winter, making it one of the most attractive and complete on the Pacific Coast. Crowds estimated at 2,000 visited the enlarged aquarium that Sunday, part of the 20,000 visitors to Point Defiance Park. The guests turned out to view the samples of local salt water creatures on display. Bille had included at least one example of most native salt water varieties. The aquarium now boasted 40 three foot tanks and 8 seven foot tanks. The latter housed the larger fish- salmon, cod, perch and trout, as well as the popular Oscar the Octopus, who was now so large that he could span the entire 7 foot tank. It was during the 1937 season that the aquarium first discovered that their star attraction "Oscar" was a she, not a he. (T.Times 4/23/1937, pg. 4; T.Times 4-26-37, p. 1-article)
Parks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Aquariums; Aquatic animals; Starfishes--Tacoma; Point Defiance Zoo (Tacoma); Bille, Warren G.;