The National Aquarium, Washington, DC, the nation’s first public aquarium, announced Thursday that renovations in the Department of Commerce building will force the public aquarium to close. The facility, which is set to close on September 30, 2013, is required by the General Services Administration to leave its current space in the Department of Commerce building by March 2014.

The biggest and most challenging task facing aquarium officials is dealing with the needs of its animals and staff. According to a news release from the National Aquarium in DC, more than 1,500 animals will be moved to their new homes at either the National Aquarium in Baltimore or other aquariums across the nation.

For those of you wishing that the National Aquarium will someday return to DC in one form or another, your wish may be granted.

“Here at the National Aquarium, we value our DC venue’s rich history as the nation’s first public aquarium, and we are committed to maintaining a presence in the capital, where a public aquarium has existed since the late 1800s,” said Tamika Langley Tremaglio, Board Chair of the National Aquarium in DC.

For the time being, a task force of aquarium board members is looking into funding options that would help the National Aquarium return to DC. Officials are adamant that the closure of this facility will not affect the operation of the National Aquarium in Baltimore.

When the National Aquarium first opened its doors to the public in 1885, it had a collection of 180 species of fish, reptiles and other aquatic animals. Now, the National Aquariums in DC and Baltimore house a combined 16,000 animals from more than 660 specie of fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.

Have you been to the National Aquarium in DC? What did you enjoy most about the aquarium? Share your thoughts in the comments section.