The Roundhouse Aquarium Teaching Center is opening its doors on Friday mornings for the first time and stretching weekend hours at both ends this summer, giving South Bay families more free time with the sharks, touch tanks, and tide pool exhibits at the end of the Manhattan Beach Pier.

Extended summer hours run Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. through Sunday, September 13. The biggest change: Fridays, which normally don't open until 2 p.m., now welcome visitors starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday hours shift from the regular 10 a.m.–7 p.m. window to 9:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m., adding 30 minutes on each end. Weekday hours remain Monday through Thursday, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Admission is always free.

The aquarium is operated by Oceanographic Teaching Stations, Inc. (OTS), a nonprofit founded in 1979 that has grown from a single room at the pier's end into a facility welcoming more than 220,000 visitors annually, according to OTS's website. The 2018 renovation, funded through a partnership between OTS, the Harrison Greenberg Foundation, and the City of Manhattan Beach, added immersive exhibits and expanded educational programs.

Education and access

OTS provides free hands-on marine science classes to more than 20,000 students each year, with a stated focus on underserved schools and Title I students, according to the organization. In 2024, more than 10,000 students served came from low-income communities, OTS reported. The nonprofit also operates a traveling education van that brings marine science to classrooms across Los Angeles County.

Executive Director Grace Adams described the aquarium's philosophy in a May 2026 profile on the organization's website: "The ocean belongs to everyone, and the responsibility to protect it is shared by us all."

What to know before you go

The Roundhouse Aquarium Teaching Center is at 2 Manhattan Beach Blvd., at the end of the Manhattan Beach Pier. Phone: 310-379-8117. No tickets or reservations needed. Note that Wednesday hours may vary; check roundhouseaquarium.org for updates.

Upcoming South Bay community events

  • International Surf Festival: Monday, July 27 through Sunday, August 2, across Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Torrance.
  • Charlie Saikley 6-Man Beach Volleyball Tournament: Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1, south side of the Manhattan Beach Pier.
  • Manhattan Beach Concerts in the Park: Sundays, August 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, 5 to 7 p.m. at Polliwog Park Amphitheater, 1601 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Free.
  • AVP Manhattan Beach Open: Friday, August 14 through Sunday, August 16, south side of the Manhattan Beach Pier. General admission free.