Visitor Map - California Academy of Sciences

Welcome to the
California Academy
of Sciences, the
only place on the
planet where you can
explore an aquarium,
planetarium, and
natural history
museum under
one living roof. Your
visit supports the
Academy’s mission
to explore, explain
and protect the
natural world.
Hours
Membership
Planetarium
Monday–Saturday 9:30 am–5:00 pm Become an Academy member
The Living Roof
Entrance on Level 1
Sunday 11:00 am–5:00 pm
and visit as often as you like
Entrance on Level
3
The Academy is closed on
while enjoying special membership
Leave Planet Earth behind as you
Stop and smell the wildflowers
Thanksgiving and Christmas.
benefits. See the
Membership
fly to the farthest reaches of the
during a visit to the Academy’s
desk for more details, call
Universe inside the world’s largest
living roof, a 2.5-acre expanse of
Daily Programs
800.794.7576 or email
all-digital planetarium. A live
native California plants. The
Make the most of your visit by membership@calacademy.org.
presenter will take you on a guided
tour of the solar system and
museum’s most iconic green
building feature, the roof provides
participating in special programs,
including penguin feedings,
Volunteer
beyond, using the latest data from
superior insulation, prevents storm
aquarium dives, and planetarium The Academy offers a wide variety
NASA to chart your course. During
shows. Visit the Guest Services of unique volunteer opportunities
water runoff, reduces the urban
a visit to the international space
desk for program times and details. that range from snake handling and
heat island effect, and creates a
station, you’ll gain a new
reef diving to specimen preparation
new habitat for native birds,
and bone classification. For more
perspective on your home—the
butterflies, and other local wildlife.
information, call 415.379.5111.
only planet known to support life.
Shopping and Dining
The Academy Store and The
Academy Cafe are open daily
during standard museum hours. Donations
The Moss Room, a full service Your tax-deductible donation helps
restaurant that features local, the Academy maintain its world
seasonal ingredients, serves lunch renowned education and research
Philippine Coral Reef
daily from 11:30 am–2:30 pm and programs. If you are interested in
Rainforests of the World
dinner from 5:30 pm–10:00 pm. supporting the Academy, please call
Level 1, Lower Level
Entrance on Level 1
415.379.5405.
Dive into the world’s deepest living
Step inside a living rainforest, Accessibility
coral reef tank without donning a
where dripping water sets the beat
The California Academy of Sciences Facility Rentals
wetsuit. Five underwater windows
is wheelchair accessible, and a The Academy’s one-of-a-kind
for a symphony of croaking frogs
offer a fish’s eye view into one of the
limited number of wheelchairs are locations provide inspired
and chirping birds. Peer into one
most diverse ecosystems on the
available upon request. For more backdrops for your next private
of Borneo’s bat caves, meet
planet. Find Nemo—and 4,000
information and additional services, or corporate event. For information
chameleons from Madagascar,
other reef fish—darting through a
please visit the Guest Services desk. about group rentals, please
and climb into the tree-tops of
Costa Rica to find free-flying birds
technicolor forest of coral, watch
garden eels emerge from their
Contact the Academy
call 415.379.5497 or email
spevents@calacademy.org.
and butterflies. Finally, descend
underwater burrows, and follow a
California Academy of Sciences
in a glass elevator into the
Golden Gate Park
Multimedia &
boardwalk through a mangrove
Amazonian flooded forest, where
55 Music Concourse Drive
Behind-the-Scenes Tours
lagoon, where sharks, rays and sea
an underwater tunnel allows you
San Francisco, CA 94118
Dive deeper into the Academy
turtles cruise beneath your feet.
415.379.8000
with a multimedia or docent-led
to gaze up at the catfish and
info@calacademy.org
behind-the-scenes tour. Please
arapaima that swim overhead.
www.calacademy.org
stop by the Guest Services desk
for more information.
Water Planet
Lower Level
African
Hall
What does it take to live
Level 1
underwater? Find out in this
Lions, and cheetahs, and zebras, innovative exhibit that includes
oh my! Take a virtual safari
more than 100 aquarium
through Africa and encounter
tanks filled with fish, reptiles,
these animals—and many
amphibians, insects, and other
invertebrates. Once an hour,
others—inside intricately crafted
the lights go down inside the
dioramas. Look closely as you
tanks, the room transforms
wander through the hall, and you’ll
into a 360-degree projection
find some live animals as well,
theater, and visitors are immersed
including tortoises, lizards, and a
in a five-minute video about
colony of African penguins.
the most precious resource on the
planet: water.
Jock McDonald
Graham Short
Visitor Map
To see the
red eyed tree
frog, visit the
Rainforests
of the World
exhibit.
Printed with non-toxic (soy-based) inks on recycled paper containing 30% post-consumer waste.
Please help us reuse this map by depositing it in the specially marked bin in the lobby as you are exiting.

Daily Programming
Schedule varies, visit the
Guest Service desk for
showtimes.
Planetarium
Fly through the Universe in
the Academy’s state-of-theart
planetarium. Visit the
kiosk at the Planetarium
Entrance to select your show
times. j
Penguin Feedings
See how Academy biologists
feed and care for the African
penguins. k
All restrooms, water fountains,
and exhibit areas in the California
Academy of Sciences are
wheelchair accessible. Elevator
attendants are available to
arrange wheelchair access to the
Living Roof and the Planetarium.
Daily Programming
Schedule varies, visit the
Guest Service desk for
showtimes.
Northern California
Coast Dive
Watch divers plunge into the
Academy’s kelp forest to
feed leopard sharks, fishes,
and anemones. e
Coral Reef Dive
Talk to divers as they feed
the colorful inhabitants of
the Philippine coral reef.
a
The World’s
Greenest Museum
Designed by award winning
architect Renzo Piano, the
California Academy of
Sciences sets a new standard
for sustainable architecture.
Supported by recycled steel,
insulated with recycled blue
jeans, powered in part by solar
panels, and topped with a
living roof, the building is the
epitome of energy-efficient
design. Learn more by visiting
the rooftop observation deck.
Lower Level
a Philippine Coral Reef
Sharks, rays, and sea turtles
cruise in the lagoon, while
colorful reef fish and corals
populate the world’s deepest
living coral display.
b The Swamp
American alligators and alligator
snapping turtles lounge in a large
tank, while snakes, frogs and salamanders
lurk nearby.
c Alligator Gars
These ancient animals have
evolved to look like alligators, but
they are actually large fish.
d Water Planet
More than 100 tanks filled with
fish, reptiles, amphibians, and
invertebrates demonstrate what
it takes to live underwater.
e Northern California Coast
Rockfish, eels, and a giant
octopus are among the animals
that make their home in the
California Coast.
f Discovery Tidepool
Touch sea stars, hermit crabs, and
other residents of the rocky coast.
Level 1
g Islands of Evolution
Visit the remote islands of
Madagascar and the Galapagos
and meet some of their most
unique inhabitants.
h Science in Action
Live talks by Academy scientists,
multimedia stations, and podcasts
provide timely and relevant news
about the natural world.
i Early Explorers Cove
A special exhibit for preschoolers
and their caregivers includes
nature-themed play spaces,
costumes, and games.
j Planetarium
Guided shows allow visitors to fly
through space and gain a new
perspective on their home.
k African Hall
Twenty-one detailed dioramas
and a colony of African penguins
bring Africa to life.
l Research Lab
Watch Academy scientists
at work through the windows
of this active research
laboratory. Next door, peek into
one of the collection rooms
for the Academy’s 20 million
scientific specimens.
m Building Green
Touch a piece of denim
insulation, explore energy
conservation methods, and learn
what it takes to create one of the
greenest buildings on Earth.
n Rainforests of the World
The rainforest residents of
Borneo, Madagascar, Costa Rica,
and the flooded Amazon fill this
90-foot-diameter dome.
o Altered State:
Climate Change in California
Fossils and other specimens tell
the story of climate change in
California and around the world.
p Academy Gardens
Planted with native species, the
Academy gardens include art
installations by Maya Lin and an
aviary for birds of prey.
Level 2
q Forum
Home to an auditorium and 3D
theater, the Forum hosts special
lectures, programs, and
temporary exhibits.
Level 3
r Naturalist Center
Reference librarians and educators
are on hand to help answer your
questions about the natural world.
Roof
s The Living Roof
An observation deck provides
views onto a 2.5-acre expanse of
native California plants.
Design: Pentagram
Illustration: reineckandreineck.com San Francisco