If you’re ever in San Francisco Bay, a must-visit destination is the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. You’ll be amazed by the Steinhart Aquarium, Morrison Planetarium, Kimball Natural History Museum, and a magnificent four-story rainforest.
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The Steinhart Aquarium is home to over 900 species and 38,000 total animals. It is a feast for the eyes, from penguins to sharks to stingrays. Visitors enjoy a 200,000-gallon coral reef gallery, a 100,000 Northern California coast tank, and dozens of other tanks with various aquatic animals.
The Morrison Planetarium is the largest all-digital Planetarium in the world. The Planetarium features a 75-diameter projection screen and presents a show multiple times daily. The show is popular, so get your passes when you arrive to reserve your seat.
The Kimball Natural History Museum presents information about life’s early evolution and maintenance. The displays draw from the Museum’s collection of over 20 million specimens and more than 150 decades of research.
Dioramas showcasing different African animals are in the Museum, an exhibit on the Islands of the Galapagos and Madagascar and a presentation on climate change in California.
The beautiful four-story rainforest is a feast for the senses. With warm temperatures, high humidity, dripping water, and exciting animals, kids of all ages will be in awe.
The rainforest is housed within a 90-foot diameter glass dome accessed through a spiraling ramp. Free-flying birds and butterflies, freshwater fish, and over 1,500 live animals are inside the rainforest. The tropical plants are equally as stunning as the animals.
The Naturalist Center focuses on providing resources to people interested in learning more about natural work. It is open to Academy visitors, and staff members can help you understand the various resources.
Aside from all the beautiful exhibits, the California Academy of Sciences building is worth mentioning. The building was a 10-year project and cost 500 million dollars. It has a platinum rating for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. This means the facility is top for sustainability in all building construction and operation aspects.
California Academy Sciences features a unique living roof, incorporating a mosaic of native plant species, over 197,000 square feet.
There are 1.7 million plants on the roof, including perennials and annuals. Perennials include strawberry, self-heal, sea pink, and stonecrop. The annual wildflower species include tidy tips, goldfield, miniature lupine, California poppy, and California plantain.
The Academy offers seasonal and daily programs. The planetarium shows penguin feeding, encounters, coral reef dives, specimen spotlights, storytime, birds of prey, and nature crafts.
California Academy of Sciences Tickets
Go San Francisco® Card Includes the California Academy of Sciences plus over 25 top attractions and tours.
General admission tickets are suitable for all the exhibits described above. You can enjoy special behind-the-scenes activities and other VIP options for an additional cost.
Dining and Gifts
If you are looking for a light snack, try the Academy Café, which has a variety of entrees, snacks, and desserts. The Academy Store has a variety of gifts and merchandise.
California Academy of Sciences Hours
The Academy is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM and Sundays from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Academy is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Getting To the California Academy of Sciences
Parking is available in the Concourse at the corner of Fulton and 10th. Be sure to arrive early. The parking garage fills up quickly on weekends.
Public transit
We suggest that visitors use public transit to the Academy. The #44 bus stops at the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park, just across from the Academy. The #5 bus stops just outside the park, and it’s a short walk to the Academy.
California Academy of Sciences Address
55 Music Concourse Dr., Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California, 94118
