Prepare to be moved! Delve into the science behind earthquakes and learn how societies prepare for and respond to these destructive phenomena. Experience a high-magnitude jolt in our earthquake simulator, fly over and into our dynamic planet in an immersive planetarium show, and explore the impacts of the largest disaster in San Francisco’s history—the 1906 earthquake and fire. Along the way, you’ll see how earthquakes fit into the larger story of plate tectonics, a constant process that builds mountains, moves continents, and creates the landscape in which life evolves or goes extinct.

Take a virtual safari through Africa by exploring majestic dioramas of African landscapes. Lions and cheetahs face off with zebras and antelope through the glass windows of their detailed displays, and a lowland gorilla invites you to ponder your ancestry.

Trace the milestones of our species' fascinating history in Human Odyssey. Compare fossils of early human relatives, walk alongside a computer animation of the famous "Lucy" skeleton, map our species' extensive journey across the world, and follow the clues that scientists use to investigate our past.

Look closely as you wander through the hall—the dioramas contain a few surprises too: live tortoises, lizards, and fish occupy some of the smaller displays, and a colony of African Penguins dip and dive in a 25,000-gallon tank at the end of the hall.

This exhibit explores the remote islands of Madagascar and the Galapagos through the eyes of Academy scientists.

Examine specimens collected during past expeditions, such as Galapagos tortoise shells and Darwin's famous finches; use Wii gaming wands to collect virtual insects; and learn how islands function as living laboratories for evolution.

This interactive exhibit allows visitors to go beyond the headlines and gain in-depth information about recent scientific discoveries around the world.

Live talks by Academy scientists, multimedia displays, computer stations, and podcasts provide a reliable source of timely and relevant news about the natural world.

A returning favorite from the original Academy, the Foucault pendulum provides simple and elegant proof of the Earth's rotation.

Suspended from the ceiling next to Morrison Planetarium, it consists of a 235-pound brass ball attached to a 30-foot-long steel aircraft cable. The plane of the pendulum's swing appears to rotate 220 degrees every day. Since no rotational forces act on the pendulum, it must be the Earth beneath that is actually rotating.

Learn more about the Foucault Pendulum

• Skeletons: An 87-foot long blue whale skeleton hangs from the ceiling while a towering Tyrannosaurus Rex looms nearby.
• Building Green: A series of interpretive panels shows how the new Academy is one of the most environmentally friendly buildings on the planet.
• Where the Land Meets the Sea: One of two art installations by Maya Lin, this suspended wire landscape depicts the topography above and below San Francisco Bay. The other installation, “Missing,” consists of a “Listening Cone” with a screen located within that features more than 20 minutes of video footage and sound recordings that link extinct as well as threatened and endangered species to the habitats and ecosystems that are vital to their survival.
  
  Learn more at whatismissing.net
• Research Lab: Visitors can watch Academy scientists at work through the windows of this active research laboratory.

Purchase Online

Location

The Naturalist Center

Early Explorers Cove