clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Restoration Reaches Belle Isle Aquarium's Biggest Skylight

New, 5 comments
The dome skylight pre-rehab [Chris and Michelle Gerard]
The dome skylight pre-rehab [Chris and Michelle Gerard]


After daylighting a pair of skylights last year, restoration experts at the Belle Isle Aquarium are tackling a bigger challenge: the skylight atop the central dome. From repairs to a basic cleaning, the octagonal window was in desperate need of attention. The skylight sits underneath a windowed cupola, which is enjoying a small rehab of its own. The project's grand finale could happen as soon as next month, when the cupola is capped with a new weathervane. Designed by Bruce Gerlach and forged by Venus Bronze Works, the weathervane features a gar (a fish native to the Great Lakes) above four electric eels. The original weathervane disappeared at some point during the aquarium's long history.

· Hidden for Decades, Belle Isle Aquarium's Skylights Are Back [Curbed]
· Historic Belle Isle Aquarium Doesn't Need Fish to Impress [Curbed]

Belle Isle Aquarium

900 Inselruhe Avenue, , MI 48207 Visit Website