The Academy is open daily—and NightLife is back! View our reopening page for ticketing information, health and safety details, exhibit updates, and FAQs. We hope to see you soon!
As you plan your visit, please note the following health and safety updates:
- Reservations are required for the planetarium, rainforest, and Shake House, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Planetarium capacity is limited to 50 guests per show. Please scan the QR code in the lobby as soon as you arrive for the greatest selection of available entry times.
- Curiosity Grove, Naturalist Center, and Discovery Tidepool will remain temporarily closed.
- To reduce crowding, public programs are no longer scheduled at specific times. Instead, look forward to "pop-up" programs on every floor and in our outdoor spaces.
New & Featured
Sharks
Discover the incredible animals behind the sensational headlines in the Academy's newest exhibit—now open daily.
Venom: Fangs, Stingers, and Spines
Encounter an eye-catching array of 12+ venomous species in the Academy's newest aquarium exhibit.
NightLife
Attention creatures of the night: NightLife is back! Buy tickets today to explore the Academy's nocturnal side.
BigPicture: Natural World Photography
Experience an awe-inspiring exhibit of 2020's best nature, wildlife, and conservation photography.
NightSchool: Down Under
Tune in for a session dedicated to some of the unique wildlife & ecosystems of Australia.
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
Explore a living 4-story rainforest, home to free-flying tropical butterflies and birds. Reservations required.
Kimball Natural History Museum
Explore hands-on exhibits, fascinating specimens, and the latest research conducted by Academy scientists.
Ongoing Exhibits
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.
Giants of Land and Sea
Experience Northern California's epic natural wonders—including a 7.9-magnitude earthquake in the Shake House.
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, a giant Pacific octopus, and more.
Hands-on Exhibits
Curiosity Grove
Please note: Curiosity Grove is temporarily closed. We look forward to reopening this space soon!
Naturalist Center
Please note: Naturalist Center is temporarily closed. We look forward to reopening this space soon!
Discovery Tidepool
Please note: Discovery Tidepool is temporarily closed. We look forward to reopening this exhibit element soon!
