Exploratorium

Exploratorium Tinker, touch, test, experiment, notice, and play with 650+ interactive science exhibits. Did you know? We have relocated to Pier 15!
(9811)

The Exploratorium is a twenty-first-century learning laboratory, an eye-opening, always-changing, playful place to explore and tinker. For more than fifty years, we’ve built creative, thought-provoking exhibits, tools, programs, and experiences that ignite curiosity, encourage exploration, and lead to profound learning. Dive in online or visit us in San Francisco and discover what we’re all about.

Come visit our new home, which has three times as much space, 1.5 acres of free outdoor space, and easy access from Bay Area public transit.

06/01/2026

This June, boldly go where where no kids are allowed—but where you can still act like one. Join us at Pier 15 for After Dark.

🏳️‍⚧️ June 4 • Home Away from Home
Kick off Q***r and Trans Asian and Pacific Islander Week with a drag show and other dazzling activities—then contemplate home off-planet guided by scientists.

🧑‍🚀 June 11 • Life in Space
What does it take to live in space... and who else might be out there? Find out at the opening of our summer exhibition Life in Space.

🎙️ June 18 • Unplug and Play
Find your community at our After Dark: play science trivia, laugh out loud, and connect deeply.

🏳️‍🌈 June 25 • Pride
Celebrate Pride with sci-fi representation, fun activities, and a thought-provoking exhibition about space.

Learn more at our link in bio.

When our Exhibit Shop team develops a new exhibit, they're not just building something that works. They're crafting an e...
05/28/2026

When our Exhibit Shop team develops a new exhibit, they're not just building something that works. They're crafting an experience that will create millions of "aha!" moments.

Because the shop sits at the heart of the museum, new ideas go straight into the galleries as live prototypes—tested by real visitors, refined in real time. Summer is when that iteration process happens: six uninterrupted weeks to perfect every detail before 100,000 students arrive in the fall for school field trips.

But that work has real costs. Tools wear out. Materials run low. Innovation doesn’t happen on its own.

💌 Your gift is the first step in every discovery they'll make this fall, and every wonder they'll walk into. 💡

🔗 Click the link in our bio to donate or learn how you can support our shop.

✨ What if your next creative chapter unfolded inside one of the world’s most iconic science museums?Applications for the...
05/20/2026

✨ What if your next creative chapter unfolded inside one of the world’s most iconic science museums?

Applications for the 2026-27 Artist-in-Residence program are now open. For over 50 years, the Exploratorium’s Artist-in-Residence program has shaped the work of artists like Ruth Asawa, Ned Kahn, and Brian Eno, and now it’s your turn.

What would you make with the Exploratorium as your playground? Learn more at our link in bio. 🎨🖼️

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Image 1: Manifold by Catie Cuan
Image 2 and 3: Mutual Air by Rosten Woo
Image 4: Cloud Rings by Ned Khan
Image 5: Xeno in Vivo by Heather Dewey-Hagborg
Image 6: Castle by Ruth Asawa

05/18/2026

The Exploratorium is headed to Carnaval San Francisco this weekend! 🎉 Carnaval is a free, two–day festival in the Mission celebrating the Latin American, Caribbean, and African Diasporic roots of the Bay Area, featuring food, dancing, and entertainment. Come find us on Harrison Street, between 21st and 20th Street, and experience our beloved Plant Tunes exhibit, transformed into “Two-Touch Tunes” for the World Cup. 🌱🏆⚽

Two-Touch Tunes creates music when you and your partner touch the trophy and both armrests! This works because people are mostly made of salty water, which conducts electricity. So a mild electric current flows through you, your partner, and the trophy, turning on the music!

–
Carnaval San Francisco
Mission District
Harrison St, between 21st and 20th Street
All Ages
Free

Climate change is a challenge that will take all of us to solve, and at the Exploratorium, we know that before you can c...
05/15/2026

Climate change is a challenge that will take all of us to solve, and at the Exploratorium, we know that before you can change the world, you first have to be curious about it.

That’s why we’re excited to break ground this summer on our new Waterfront Field Station, a free, outdoor public learning environment dedicated to sea level rise, climate resilience, and the future of the San Francisco Bay.

At last night’s governor’s debate, Emma Greenbaum, our climate and landscapes director, highlighted the tremendous opportunity California has to shape cutting-edge climate policy.

We’re proud to be a leader in climate education. From our public programming, exhibits, and educator workshops here at Pier 15 in San Francisco, to our global partnerships, we create experiences that empower people to take action to create a brighter future for the planet and the life it sustains.

We invite you to join us in being curious, asking questions, and questioning answers for a better tomorrow. Visit our link in bio to watch the video.

05/14/2026

Your new favorite excuse to linger on the Embarcadero… the Exploratorium and are proud to announce that Catalyst Coffee Lab is officially open to the public at Pier 15! ☕

Enjoy brews from Thanksgiving Coffee, handcrafted espresso, fizzy sips, and fresh pastries. Need a proper breakfast before diving into the exhibits? Breakfast burritos and bacon, egg, and cheese croissants are made to order. 🍳

Whether you’re a museum-goer or just passing by, swing in for a brain-boosting bite!

The Catalyst Coffee Lab is open to the public and doesn’t require a museum ticket to purchase food or beverages.

This Teacher Appreciation Week, the Exploratorium is celebrating and honoring the teachers who’ve made a lasting impact ...
05/06/2026

This Teacher Appreciation Week, the Exploratorium is celebrating and honoring the teachers who’ve made a lasting impact on our lives, and changed us for the better. Thank you for staying long after the final bell.

-———

Photo credit: Bob Zimmerman by Sven Martson, Courtesy of Sarah Lawrence College Archive

05/05/2026

This summer, explore the science of how life—human or extraterrestrial—might (just maybe) stay alive in the extreme conditions beyond Earth. ☄️ The Exploratorium’s Life in Space exhibition discovers what it will really take to live in space as humans enter a new era in space exploration! 🧑‍🚀

Don’t miss this major exhibition of:

⚠️ Playful science
👾 Intriguing art
🌠 Hands-on programs for space fans of all ages

Let’s get real. 🚀 Life in Space opens on June 11!

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Life in Space
Opens June 11
Pier 15, San Francisco

04/29/2026

Join us this Friday, May 1, as sets the vibe with her high-energy mixes and dynamic sets!🎧🎶

The Exploratorium’s After Party transforms Pier 15 into an unforgettable night where music, science, and curiosity collide till midnight. Every ticket purchase includes all-inclusive craft cocktails, mocktails, and late-night bites 🥃 🍔

Every ticket purchase supports innovative research and development in the Exploratorium’s Exhibit Shop, making a profound impact on science learning worldwide. Join us for a phenomenal night in San Francisco! Buy your tickets in our link in bio 🎟️

——
After Party
This Friday, May 1 • 8 p.m.–midnight
The Exploratorium, Pier 15 San Francisco
Ages 21+

Following several months of thoughtful development and on-the-ground refinement, we are proud to announce The Tinkering ...
04/28/2026

Following several months of thoughtful development and on-the-ground refinement, we are proud to announce The Tinkering Table, and Catalyst Coffee Lab are now open!

🍽️🍕 The Tinkering Table: Part fast-casual restaurant, part test kitchen where every bite is custom-built
☕🥐 Catalyst Coffee Lab: an open-to-the-public coffee bar that offers a refined grab-and-go experience featuring thoughtfully-sourced coffee from Thanksgiving Coffee

Build your own plate from a rotating menu of seasonal flatbreads, soups, grain bowls, sandwiches, and burgers. Treat yourself to handcrafted coffee drinks, and fresh pastries! Little tinkerers get their own menu too. Every plate is an experiment worth eating. All crafted in partnership with Constellation ⚒️

Address

Pier 15 Embarcadero At Green Street
San Francisco, CA
94111

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
6pm - 10pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

(415)5284444

Website

https://linkin.bio/exploratorium, https://www.exploratorium.edu/arts/artist-residence

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