The new California Academy of Sciences is redefining what it means to be a science museum: A single building that evokes the interdependence of earth, ocean and space; that houses an aquarium, a planetarium and a natural history museum; that’s filled with hundreds of innovative and engaging exhibits and thousands of animals.
New Model
 | The Academy’s recent rebuilding project provided a rare opportunity to rethink the entire museum-going experience. Rather than recreate the 12 separate structures that previously existed, the Academy chose to build a single entity that is physically and thematically intertwined. |
New Life
 | One of the most notable changes to the Academy is simply the growth in its animal and plant population. The new Academy is now home to nearly 40,000 animals, more than six times the number at the old Academy. Leafy Sea Dragons, Anaconda, Giant Octopuses, Amazonian Piranhas, Borneo fruit bats, Leaf-tailed Geckos, Tortoises, Stick Insects, Doves, Tanagers, Butterflies, and more! |
New Technologies
 | Academy exhibits leverage the latest in digital media production, multimedia displays, technology platforms, and interactive gaming technologies. Visitors will be able to view the most accurate rendering of the Universe ever created, catch virtual butterflies with a digital net, make a public video pledge that's instantly shared with others over the internet, use a cell-phone to go on an Academy-wide scavenger hunt, and so much more! |
Old Favorites
 | The new Academy may be a museum for the 21st century but it still draw heavily from its 155-year legacy, its 20 million specimens, and its most popular exhibits from years past. Returning favorites include updated versions of African Hall, Foucault’s Pendulum, the Swamp exhibit, the T Rex skeleton, and the 87-foot Blue Whale. A handful of architectural elements from the old structure have also been retained, including a significant portion of the building's facade. |
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The Lay of the Land |
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The more familiar you are with the building prior to your visit, the more time you can spend exploring rather than navigating!
Review the Academy Floor Plan »
Download a Visitor Map »
[2.5 MB PDF]
Major Venues |
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While the new Academy is a single overarching entity, major Academy venues still persist.
Take a closer look at the new:
Daily Programs |
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Aquarium
- Coral Reef Dive: Every day at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm.
- Penguin Feeding: Every day at 10:30 am and 3:30 pm. African Hall.
Planetarium
- Fragile Planet: Every hour on the half-hour, 11:30 am - 4:30 pm.
Hearst 3D Theater
- Bugs!: Mondays - Saturdays, the top of every hour, 10 am - 4 pm. Sunday, 11 am - 4 pm.
Please note: Demand can exceed capacity for many of our exhibits and attractions. We cannot guarantee admittance to every attraction during your visit.
Self-Guided Tours |
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Explore at your own pace.
- Audio tours are available in French, German, Italian, English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean and Chinese.
- You can also access details about exhibits via your cell phone!
