Generated with sparks and insights from 18 sources

Travel Tips

Family-Friendly Activities

Provides a unique opportunity for kids to explore nature and science. 1

Perfect for families; offers interactive and educational exhibits. 2

Great for all ages. Don't miss the living roof for views. 3

Great for families with kids. 4

Great for kids, plan for a full day visit. 5

Explore the outdoor Wander Woods and Curiosity Grove for kids. 6

Toddlers can touch starfish and sea urchins at the Discovery Tidepool. 7

Ticket and Admission Tips

Reserve timed tickets in advance for 'pay what you can day'. Check eligibility for $3 admission. 8

Check for ticket discounts online before visiting. 9

Buy tickets in advance to skip the line. 10

Attraction Highlights

Don't miss the planetarium and the free-flying birds in the rainforest dome. 11

Don't miss the earthquake simulator and the interactive exhibits. 12

Don't miss the immersive Shake House exhibit for a safe experience of historical earthquakes. 13

Don't miss the penguin feeding and the swamp talk with Claude the albino alligator. 14

See a planetarium show for a fuller understanding of our planet. 15

Duration and Planning

Allow at least 3 hours for your visit, especially if attending the Planetarium show. 16

Plan to spend 3 to 4 hours here to see everything. 17

Spend a good three hours to fully explore. 18

Introduction

Exhibits

• 🌳 Rainforests of the World: Enclosed in a 90-foot glass dome, featuring an Amazonian flooded forest
• 🌌 Morrison Planetarium: Digitally controlled planetarium dome with a 75-foot diameter screen
• 🐠 Steinhart Aquarium: Includes coral reefs, tide pools, and swamp habitats
• 🐧 Penguin Habitat: Home to a colony of African penguins
• 🦴 Kimball Natural History Museum: Features Africa Hall, Foucault pendulum, and geophysical exhibits
• 🦎 Claude: A rare albino American alligator
• 🐍 Lemondrop: An albino reticulated python
• 🐟 Acrylic Tunnel: View fish species like arapaima, arowana, and catfish

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Hours

• 🕰️ Monday – Saturday: 9:30 am – 5 pm
• 🕰️ Sunday: 11 am – 5 pm
• 🌙 Thursday NightLife (21+): 6 – 10 pm
• 🕰️ Member Hours: Tuesday 8:30 – 9:30 am, Sunday 10 – 11 am

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Transportation

• 🚇 Metro: Accessible via N Judah Metro line
• 🚌 Bus: Served by Muni bus lines 44, 5, and 7
• 🚏 Closest Station: 9th Avenue and Irving station, about 0.5 miles from the Academy

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History

• 📜 Founded: 1853 as the California Academy of Natural Sciences
• 🏛️ First Museum: Opened in 1874 in Chinatown, San Francisco
• 🌉 Earthquake: Destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, rebuilt in Golden Gate Park
• 🔬 Research: Continues to conduct original research in natural sciences
• 🏗️ Rebuilt: Completely rebuilt in 2008 with a new environmentally friendly design

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Environmental Design

• 🌿 Green Roof: Planted with 1.7 million California native plants
• 💡 Natural Lighting: Uses natural lighting in 90% of occupied spaces
• 💧 Water Recycling: Recycles rainwater for irrigation
• 🔋 Solar Power: Uses 60,000 photovoltaic cells
• 🏆 Awards: Received LEED Platinum certification and other sustainability awards

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Travel Information
📞   Phone: (415) 379-8000
🌐   Website: https://www.calacademy.org/
🕒   Hours: See hours
📍   Address: 55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
🔗   Profiles:

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