Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2
California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences has been
located in Golden Gate Park since 1916, settling
into a new building in late 2008. It houses the
Steinhart Aquarium, Morrison Planetarium, and the
Kimball Natural History Museum, and combines
innovative green architecture with flexible
exhibition spaces. A lovely piazza is at the heart of
the building. Filled with native plant species, the
2.5-acre (1-ha) living roof, which can be seen from
the rooftop deck, is designed to make the museum
blend in with the surrounding parkland.
Discovery Tidepool
Located in the lower level, this exhibit allows
visitors to touch sea creatures that live in the
local coast's rock pools.
Museum Guide
Steinhart Aquarium displays are spread
throughout the museum, but most of
the tanks can be found in the lower level
beneath the Piazza. An auditorium
above the café hosts traveling exhibits
as well as special performances and
programs. The back of the building holds
the museum's collection of over 28
million scientific specimens along with
staff offices and research laboratories.
The Swamp
Philippine Coral Reef Tank
(Lower Level)
Sharks and Rays
(Lower Level)
Planetarium
Visitors leave planet Earth behind as they fly
through space and time inside the world's
largest all-digital planetarium.
Key to Floor Plan
African Hall
Kimball Natural History Museum
Morrison Planetarium
Rainforests of the World
Building Green
Steinhart Aquarium
African Hall
Preserved animals from
Africa's jungles and
savannas are displayed
here, in lifelike dioramas.
Science in Action
Islands of Evolution
Early Explorers Cove
Non-exhibition space
