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Let the Wonder Begin
Built for Speed
From speedy ocean animals to the world’s fastest sailboats, find out what it takes to be swift at sea. Learn more
The Aquarium
Meet Nemo, a colony of penguins, and 38,000 other live animals from around the world. Learn more
The Natural History Museum
Explore how life evolved on Earth, and what we can do to help conserve its diversity. Learn more
The Planetarium
Fly through space and time, and gain a new perspective on the planet we call home. Learn more
The Rainforest
Journey through a four-story rainforest that is hot, humid, and teeming with life. Learn more
Programs & Events
Thursdays from 6–10 pm
Enjoy music, creatures & cocktails after-hours with a unique weekly theme.
Daily at 12:00 pm
Experience life beneath the waves, where rockfish, leopard sharks & urchins abound.
Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 pm
Meet Academy scientists exploring and sustaining biodiversity around the globe.
Daily at 10:30 am and 3:00 pm
Meet our African Penguin colony, and ask a biologist your questions.
Daily at 11am, 12pm and 1pm
Get moving and discover how fish use their bodies to swim through water.
Daily at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm
Watch as a diver plunges into the world’s deepest coral reef exhibit.
Wednesdays at 9:45 am
Join hands-on activities, stories & crafts with rotating themes (ages 3–5).
Monday through Friday
From Apollo to asteroids, learn about the fastest things moving through space.
Daily
Dive deeper with exclusive access to the aquarium or research collections.
Saturday, June 22 at 10:00 am
From monkey flowers to lizard tails, get to know an array of native Bay Area plants.
Ongoing series
Prepare for a wild night! Join a Penguins + Pajamas sleepover, for ages 5+.
News & Highlights
White House Honors the Academy
Elizabeth Babcock earns recognition for leadership in digital learning opportunities.
Ground Control to Chris Hadfield
The social media-savvy astronaut is back from the International Space Station.
National Pollinator Week
It’s all about the birds and bees in Golden Gate Park from June 17–23.
Marine Life in the Desert
Academy scientists head to the Middle East to explore tropical reefs in the Red Sea.
Built for Speed Exhibit
Peek behind-the-scenes at the five-week process to rearticulate Orca 0319’s bones.
Reimagine Plastic
How would you stem the tide of plastic trash in the ocean? Share your ideas!
Oysters and Acidification
Scientists study the impact of a changing ocean on development of oyster larvae.
Prize-winning Photos
See visually stunning pictures and other highlights from this year’s contest.
Human Odyssey
Retrace humanity’s path from our African origins to our spread across the globe.
Gulf of Guinea Expeditions
UNESCO has recognized São Tomé and Príncipe as a World Biosphere Reserve.
Pocket Penguins
Be one of the 500,000+ users watching our African penguins live on mobile devices.
3D Digitizing Project
See the unique beauty of the world’s ant species, compiled by Academy scientists.
Our Mission
The Academy is driven by a mission to Explore, Explain, and Sustain Life.
Learn more
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Your Name in Lights!
Support the Academy’s ocean conservation efforts and your gift will be honored at our new Built for Speed exhibit.
