Salt Lake City Council agrees in 2001 to buy four acres at 336 S. 500 West to hold while the aquarium raises funds for a $67 million, 90,000-square-foot facility. The aquarium creates fundraising benchmarks but later drops the price tag to $42 million.

Mayor Rocky Anderson urges the City Council in April 2004 to rescind the aquarium's lease on the downtown property, calling the attraction a risky venture. Despite the aquarium's struggle to meet fundraising goals, the council extends the lease for several months while the Salt Lake County Council debates putting an aquarium bond on the ballot.

The County Council decides in August 2004 not to put the aquarium on the ballot.

The Gail Benjamin Preview Exhibit of The Living Planet Aquarium opens at The Gateway in June 2004.

The City Council agrees in February 2005 to continue holding downtown land for the aquarium through June 2008. If enough money is not raised to build the project by 2010, the city will take back the land.

The preview exhibit moves from The Gateway to Sandy in June 2006, attracting bigger crowds.

Aquarium backers propose a $34.5 million bond for the 2006 Salt Lake County ballot, but the County Council refuses.

Aquarium's financial clerk is fired February 2007 for alleged theft. She is charged in April with pilfering $5,300. At the same time, 10 of the 12-member aquarium board resign citing irreconcilable differences and problems with management.

Sources: Tribune archives, The Living Planet Aquarium Web site, Salt Lake City documents