This Presidents’ Day, join us in celebrating our two heads of
state that are now residing in the Gray’s Reef exhibit at our
Washington, DC, venue. Two adorable baby loggerhead sea turtles,
named Jimmy and Teddy, came to their new temporary home in the
nation’s capital from the North Carolina Aquarium, which is
leading an effort to help rebuild sea turtle populations. The
two turtles are named after presidents Jimmy Carter and Teddy
Roosevelt. Roosevelt was well known for his conservation role
while president; he greatly expanded the National Parks System.
The National Aquarium’s freshwater gallery represents many of
our National Parks today. Similarly, President Jimmy Carter
designated Gray’s Reef, in the southeastern United States, as a
National Marine Sanctuary. A Gray’s Reef exhibit is also
represented at the Aquarium, and is the current home for the
loggerheads. Sea turtles have a challenging life. Weighing just
20 grams at birth, they face many natural predators both on the
sandy beaches where they are h