Re: 90 Years of the Steinhart Aquarium

11/08/13 - posted by Tim Dineen

I got to meet "Dr Earl" many times in my youth.

My ex-SIL's father, Bill Denevi, was Chief Engineer of Steinhart for years. We spent a lot of time in the back of the aquarium with the pipes, tanks, and filters. By the late '60s the place was held together with baling wire and duct tape. They continually had to do more with less.

Seeing what it took to make the public displays so spectacular was an educational experience in and of itself. It was unbelievable how cramped and crowded the back spaces were - and how much work it took to maintain the facade.

The family connection continues to the new aquarium with my nephew helping to install the bazillion miles of plumbing.