From deep sea to deep space, your Academy ticket is your passport to science adventures. Explore our exhibits, public programs, events, and more.
New & Featured
'Tis the Season for Science
Make merry at the museum this holiday! Frolic under flurries, explore our Ice Lab, enjoy live shows, and more.
Bugs
See a wētāpunga (giant wētā) specimen, a cricket native to New Zealand—and the world's heaviest insect. Photo: Mike O'Neill © Te Papa 2016
See the world from a bug's perspective—and see larger-than-life bug models!—in this hands-on exhibition.
Welcome Winter Night
Kick off the winter season with a flurry of all-ages fun—and meet two reindeer visiting for one night only!
NightLife: Holiday Bazaar
Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, everyone 21+ is invited to shop the halls at our annual holiday bazaar!
BigPicture: Natural World Photography
Bee Balling by Karine Aigner (Grand Prize winner)
Still pictures will move you in an exhibition of the year's best nature, wildlife, and conservation photography.
Iconic Exhibits
Steinhart Aquarium
Come face-to-fin with nearly 40,000 animals—from deep-sea oddities to Claude, our alligator with albinism.
Morrison Planetarium
Experience the cosmos from the Academy's all-digital, 75-foot planetarium dome. Reservations required.
Osher Rainforest
Journey through a living 4-story rainforest, home to free-flying butterflies and birds and giant Amazonian fish.
Kimball Natural History Museum
Explore hands-on exhibits, fascinating specimens, and the latest research conducted by Academy scientists.
Ongoing Exhibits
Hidden Wonders: Inside the Academy's Collections
"Kitty," our California saber-toothed cat (Smilodon californicus) fossil, was collected from the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles.
Peek into the past in an all-new exhibition of nearly 800 objects from the Academy's research collections.
Giants of Land and Sea
Experience Northern California's epic natural wonders—including a 7.9-magnitude earthquake in the Shake House.
Gems and Minerals Unearthed
Marvel at nearly 400 dazzling and dramatic gem and mineral specimens from the Academy's geology collection.
Twilight Zone: Deep Reefs Revealed
Descend into the twilight zone, where sunlight is scarce and every dive yields surprising discoveries.
New Science: The Academy Exhibit
Celebrate LGBTQ+ women and gender minorities of color working in STEMM in a new exhibit and online gallery.
Color of Life
Live animals and hands-on exhibits reveal the significant role color plays across a vibrant spectrum of species.
The Swamp
Explore a Southeastern swamp habitat, home to snapping turtles and our beloved alligator with albinism, Claude.
Philippine Coral Reef
Watch reef fish dart through colorful forests of coral while giant rays sail gracefully under your feet.
Tusher African Hall
Explore our evolutionary history while surrounded by dioramas of African wildlife and splashing penguins.
Living Roof
Rolling hills and 1.7 million plants create an oasis for native species atop the Academy's 2.5-acre living roof.
Human Odyssey
Trace the milestones of our species’ fascinating history by studying skull casts, interactive maps, and more.
Water Planet
Discover how animals have evolved fascinating methods of living in and out of water.
California Coast
Get a glimpse of the richness right off our coast and gaze at rockfish, eels, anemones, sharks, and more.
Hands-on Exhibits
Wander Woods
Activate your kids' curiosity about the natural world in our outdoor nature play and exploration space.
Curiosity Grove
Young imaginations soar in this colorful, California forest-themed playspace. Open daily, 10 am-4 pm.
Naturalist Center
Welcome to the Academy's hub for exploration, with books, games, specimens, and more. Open daily; hours vary.
