About
The California Academy of Sciences is a natural history museum in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, and it brings several kinds of visit under one roof. Here you can move from a planetarium to an aquarium to a rainforest without leaving the building, which makes it a practical choice for a day of looking at living things and the natural world.
What you will find
- A four-story rainforest dome, the centrepiece of the building, where plants and animals from tropical habitats are displayed at several levels.
- An aquarium, presenting the marine life of the region and beyond.
- A planetarium, for those who want to turn from life on Earth to the sky above it.
- Natural history exhibits, covering a wide range of subjects across the institution's collections and displays.
The building and the setting
The academy is known for its sustainable architecture, so the building itself is worth a look alongside the exhibits. Its location in Golden Gate Park means that a visit can easily be combined with time outdoors among the park's gardens, paths and open lawns, which surround the museum and offer a quieter counterpoint to the indoor displays.
Is it right for your visit?
The academy suits families, students, and anyone with an interest in science or nature, and it works well for a visit that is planned around more than one kind of exhibit. Because the rainforest, aquarium and planetarium sit together, you can shape your time around whichever of them interests you most. San Francisco itself offers plenty to pair with a trip here, and the park makes a convenient place to spend the rest of the day.