Updated September 18, 2023.
The California Academy of Sciences
A local's tips for a fun experience!
Visitors are encouraged (but not required) to purchase tickets ahead of time. They are for a specific date and time. See Academy tickets to book or more info. Save $3-5 by buying tickets at least 3 days in advance. Even buying the tickets the day before gives you a little discount.
Covid era entry requirements:
The museum has dropped its vaccination and testing requirements.
Masks are no longer required indoors, but are encouraged.
The California Academy of Sciences is an enormously popular San Francisco science museum, housing a Planetarium, Aquarium and Natural History Museum, as well as a well-respected research community of scientists.
In 2008, the beloved old museum was torn down and an award-winning, "green" building was built to house the Academy and its exhibits.
The new building has been massively hyped and has become very popular (and massively crowded), but there are many who miss the old museum. Nevertheless, the new one has a lot to offer and plenty of interesting things to see.
Hours
Monday-Saturday: 9:30-5:00
Sunday:11:00-5:00
Thursday night: 6:00-10:00 pm (21+)
Fees
The prices of tickets vary depending on what day it is, what time the ticket is for, and how far in advance you are buying it, so it's hard to generalize.
Adults: from $41.50 to $46.25, purchased in advance.
Adults same day, either online or at the door: $52.
Seniors, students and kids less, also variable.
2 yrs and under: free
Note: I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through some of the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. This helps me provide all the free information I post on this website.
Save some money:
The entry fees are a bit stiff, but there are ways to get a break.
One way is to use one of the city passes, if you plan on visiting several attractions. Here are the passes that include entry to the Academy of Sciences:
Become a member: free access all year, and you can bring a friend. Use members-only line to enter.
The museum has various programs for reduced entry fees for various groups (free for active-duty military, reduced entry fee for low income people, $3 off for using public transportation, etc.) See Discounts for current info.
Nightlife
Nightlife is open again.
Every Thursday night is party time at the Academy, for 21 and over, from 6-10 pm. Tickets $15.50-26.75 (depending on dates), music, dancing, cocktails and entertainment of some kind. Check their website for events.
The Academy also has a full schedule of interesting workshops and lectures on a variety of scientific subjects. See website.
California Academy of Sciences Highlights
Inside the walls are two huge domes housing the Planetarium and the Rainforest, and a large, glassed-enclosed box containing some plastic chairs and tables (the Piazza).
The popular African Hall from the old museum was preserved and included in the new museum.
The Steinhart Aquarium is in the basement, and what's left of the Natural History Museum exhibits are arranged mostly around the edges of the main floor.
Insider Tip - When to Go: Enjoyment of your experience at the museum can hinge on when you go. If you can, avoid school holidays and weekends, or if you can't, go early. Best time to go: during the school week, after 1:30 or 2:00 p.m. An "inside source" told me most of the school field trips are in the morning, and have left by then.
The San Francisco Planetarium
Outside the Planetarium
This is a must-see for a visit to the Academy. The vast dome houses a state-of-the-art surround screen and comfortable seating for an amazing, out-of-body experience. (The largest, all-digital dome in the world.)
The films change periodically; they are professionally done and very interesting.
Inside the Planetarium
Best strategy: get there first thing in the morning and reserve your spot using your smart phone in the lobby as soon as you arrive. Find the QR code posted there, scan it, and go to their website to make the reservation.
Check the museum's website for daily showings: Daily Calendar
Hohfeld Hall: another theater just inside the entryway of the planetarium shows short films on various subjects.
The Rainforest
The Rainforest Dome
The Rainforest is an amazing, 4-level glass structure that recreates the plants and includes some of the creatures of three different rain forests: Borneo, Madagascar, and Costa Rica, all on different levels. At the bottom is the flooded Amazonian floor.
Amazon Floor
As soon as you enter, the warmth and steaminess tell you you're in the tropics (kept at 82-85 degrees F. and 75% humidity). A winding ramp takes you all the way to the top.
Inside the Dome
Getting in can require a bit of a wait; go early in the day or when the kids are in school. Over Christmas break, the wait was one hour; midweek, during the school year, there was no wait.
Feeding the Fish
Native plants from the three rain forests have been planted inside, including some lovely orchids and flowering cacao plants. Watch for the gorgeous Blue and Gold McCaw parrots on the bottom level.
Most of the animals are in cages, but there are 100's of butterflies flying free inside the dome. Two of them sat on my wrist with their scratchy little feet, while I was trying to photograph something else.
They are so tame, a staff member waits at the exit to check your clothing to make sure none of the butterflies are leaving with you!
Lots of beautiful poison dart frogs in an array of colors are living in the Rainforest exhibit, but behind glass, as well as an interesting assortment of snakes and lizards.
Poison Dart Frog
The cases with wildlife are scattered all through the Rainforest exhibit, matched up with their respective environments.
But these big guys are running loose! Large Golden Orb-weaver spiders (Nephila clavipes) were introduced a couple of years ago and are building their webs in the rainforest now.
On one visit, I saw quite a few of them hanging in their webs just off the spiral ramp on the way up, but recently I only saw one in its web on the lowest level. The staff says they don't allow them to build their webs too close to the visitors; apparently, the spiders had gotten a bit too numerous and many had to be removed. They also have some of them in a glass case. Keep a sharp eye!
in the Academy Rainforest
They are considered venomous, but the bite only causes some local pain and redness in humans. And according to what I read, they only bite if they are pinched...??
Their webs can be a meter wide, and have been used to regenerate neurons; the fibers have a tensile strength ten times that of steel.
African Hall
Lions and tigers and bears! Well, lions and leopards, baboons, zebras and gazelles.
Zebras in the African Hall
The African Hall is the last holdout of the previous natural history museum on the premises. It's an old-style, taxidermied-animal display, with well-crafted scene paintings to provide a feeling of depth.
Baboons
My son really loved this section; it's one of my favorites as well. The watering hole diorama at the end has been replaced with a live penguin display.
At the other end of the hall is an interesting exhibit, Human Odyssey, illustrating human evolution, including a selection of early hominid skulls.
The Steinhart Aquarium
The aquarium is underneath the main level, accessible from the Swamp at the back of the museum.
Northern California Reef
The aquarium is composed a different sections showcasing freshwater and ocean creatures from different parts of the planet. Not just fish - look for snakes, amphibians and insects, as well as tanks of ethereal jelly fish.
- Northern California Coast
- Philippine Coral Reef
- Flooded Amazon Forest (walk under it)
- Water Planet (lots of tanks)
- The Tide Pool (handle slimy stuff)
- Animal Attraction Gallery (weird mating habits)
Under the Flooded Amazon
Walk through the acrylic tunnel under the flooded floor of the Rainforest. They say there are piranhas in there.
Claude in "the Swamp"
The Swamp is a holdover from the old California Academy of Sciences, a glimpse down into the water world of the aquarium on the lower level. The rare albino alligator, Claude, is a favorite of visitors.
The entrance to the Steinhart Aquarium is off to the left side of the Swamp.
The Living Roof
One of the most-admired features of the design is the Living Roof. Over 2 acres of plants cover the roof of the museum, with lots of portholes sprinkled here and there for light and air. The greenery keeps the building 10 degrees cooler than it would normally be, and rainwater is collected for irrigation.
There's a small viewing platform towards the front of the building, on the right side, top level.
The Living Roof
The Earthquake Exhibit- No longer there, unfortunately.
The Shake House was one of the best features of the museum, IMO. Sad to see it go. This is what it was like...
Want to experience a big San Francisco earthquake without any risk?
I finally made it into the Shake House on an off day when the lines were short - it was great! Unless you have a fear of earthquakes, this is a pretty amazing exhibit.
The Shake House
You go into the exhibit in a group, and watch a short video about the quakes. Then on into a dollhouse facsimile of a San Francisco Victorian, chandelier and all.
Inside the Shake House
Hang on to the railings, because here comes the 1989 Loma Prieta quake! And just when you've caught your breath, pow! The Big One! 7.9 on the Richter scale, April 18, 1906.
It's not really scary, but the power is impressive; I was in there with a group of 7 year olds and they were having grand time (you have to be at least 4 years old to go in there). It is a powerful reminder, however, of what's practically under our feet.
I was in SF for the 1989 quake and the simulation felt pretty much as I remembered it. The 1906 sim is a wake-up call for us locals.
Eats
The Academy Cafe (informal) is on the main level, and the Moss Room (fancier) is downstairs. Note: food purchased at the museum indoors has to be eaten outside. No indoor dining at the moment due to Covid. Or you can eat outside at the Terrace (good food, less crowded, and quieter).
Gift Shops
Three nice gift shops: big variety of tempting books, toys, games, and gadgets. Take home a cuddly version of Claude.
History of the California Academy of Sciences
The Academy had its start in 1853 as an organization of scientists and gradually morphed into the museum we have now in Golden Gate Park . In addition to the exhibits created for the public, the Academy is a major research institution that emphasizes natural history, botany, biology, anthropology and the environment.
The 1906 earthquake tragically destroyed the building on Market street, along with most of its collection, and they basically had to start over.
The California Academy of Sciences moved to its present location in Golden Gate Park in 1916, and subsequently added more wings to the building as it added and aquarium and planetarium to the original natural history museum.
Yet another earthquake in 1989, the Loma Prieta, caused serious damage to parts of the building and required a move to a temporary home on Howard Street, in the South of Market area.
There followed the usual political struggle about retrofit vs. tear down and rebuild, and again the new building faction won, similar to the story of the de Young Museum across the way.
A well-respected Italian architect, Renzo Piano, was chosen to design the new building, which opened in 2008.
The resulting building was praised to the skies by the architecture world and the media, and won numerous prestigious awards for it's green building materials and energy-conserving functions, such as using recycled blue jeans for insulation, and the sun for 90% of its lighting.
Getting There and Parking
The California Academy of Sciences is located on MLK Drive in Golden Gate Park, across from the de Young Museum. See map below.
The 5-Fulton bus and the N-Judah streetcar will bring you within a couple of blocks of the museum.
The free Golden Gate Park shuttle runs along JFK Drive in the eastern half of the park and stops near the Academy. Runs daily M-F 12-6 and Sun/Sat 9-6.
Parking can usually be found on MLK Drive within reasonable walking distance from the museum. On busy days (sunny weekends and days of very popular special exhibits), parking is trickier. You'll have to park farther away on MLK Drive, or try the parking spots around Stow Lake nearby (about a five minute walk). Outside the park is much tougher.
JFK Drive is permanently closed to cars now.
There's parking garage under the de Young Museum, a bit expensive ($5.25 to $6.25 per hour), but not terrible for a few hours. There is one entrance on 10th Avenue at Fulton, on the north side of the park, and another just off MLK Drive near the Academy of Sciences.
Map of California Academy of Sciences
And nearby attractions in Golden Gate Park
Review of the California Academy of Sciences
In a nutshell, people seem to either love the new building or they are gnashing their teeth at what has replaced their favorite San Francisco museum. For more information, read my candid review of the new California Academy of Sciences.
From talking to friends and acquaintances about this, there appears to be an even split between the two camps. Those who loved the old museum are unhappy, but those who never experienced the previous museum think the new one is great. The reviewers on yelp.com awhile back reflected the same division.
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