The Exploratorium

The Exploratorium is the museum that taught a generation of Bay Area kids to poke at science. Hundreds of exhibits invite visitors to spin, tilt, listen, build and look closely, with very little glass in between. Since 2013 it has filled Piers 15 and 17 on the San Francisco waterfront, with the bay on three sides and a fog sculpture on the walkway between them.

From Palo Alto it is a Caltrain ride plus a short Muni trip, or about 35 miles by car. This guide covers the museum's history, its late 2026 hours and tickets, how to get there, which ages it suits, accessibility, food and nearby stops on the Embarcadero.

From the Palace of Fine Arts to Pier 15

Physicist and teacher Frank Oppenheimer founded the Exploratorium in 1969. It opened in late August that year inside the Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina, a cavernous leftover from the 1915 world's fair. Oppenheimer's idea was a place where people learn by doing rather than by reading labels.

In April 2013 the museum moved to Piers 15 and 17. The new campus has about 330,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space plus 1.5 acres of free public space. Wikipedia counts more than 600 exhibits at the pier, about a quarter of them built for the new site. The only new building is the Bay Observatory, glass on all four sides, which looks out over the water and the city.

Some of the campus costs nothing to see. Fujiko Nakaya's Fog Bridge, now a permanent installation, sends out bursts of mist on the walkway between the two piers. The public space along the pier is open to anyone walking the Embarcadero.

What is inside

The museum is arranged as a series of themed indoor galleries plus outdoor exhibits on the pier. Children tend to bounce between them rather than follow a route. A few highlights:

• Hands-on exhibits. Most of the museum is meant to be touched, turned and tested rather than read about.
• Bay Observatory gallery. Exhibits on the waterfront, weather and the city, on the second floor with views of the bay.
• Tactile Dome. A pitch-black maze you crawl and climb through by touch. It was designed by Carl Day with August Coppola as producer and needs a separate reservation.
• Glow. A seasonal light program listed from November 19 to January 24, which suits a winter visit.

Check the events calendar for demonstrations on the day you go.

Hours and tickets for late 2026

The visit page listed these regular hours, last updated October 30, 2026:

Holiday hours differ, so check the special hours section before you go.

Daytime admission is $39.95 for adults 18 to 64. Youth 4 to 17, seniors 65 and up, people with disabilities, teachers and students pay $29.95. Children 3 and under are free, as are daytime members. Tickets are nonrefundable and nontransferable. After Dark costs $22.95 and is for adults only. The Tactile Dome is $15.95, or $12.95 for members, with daytime sessions from 10:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Ways to pay less

• EBT, Medi-Cal, WIC or Lifeline cardholders pay $5 for up to four tickets, bought on site only.
• Discover & Go library passes cover the Exploratorium. Palo Alto cardholders can check availability.
• California public school teachers can apply for one free admission voucher.
• ASTC Passport members whose home museum is 90 miles or more away get free entry for two.
• The museum is part of the San Francisco CityPASS bundle.

Getting there from Palo Alto

By Caltrain and Muni

Take Caltrain to 4th and King, about 40 minutes on an express. Board the N Judah outside the station and ride it along the Embarcadero to Embarcadero station. From there it is about a 15 minute walk north past the Ferry Building to Pier 15, or a short ride on the F line streetcar to the Green Street stop. Allow about an hour and a half door to door. One Clipper card covers both systems.

By car

Take Highway 101 north into San Francisco and follow signs for the Embarcadero. The drive takes 45 minutes to an hour without traffic. The Pier 15 lot offers a discount with code 430210, but the museum does not run it and space is not guaranteed. Call LAZ Parking at (415) 765-9069 to confirm rates. Metered parking lines the Embarcadero and nearby streets. The museum advises taking all valuables out of the car, including the trunk.

Who it suits

The Exploratorium works best from about age 6 to adult. Younger children enjoy plenty of exhibits but may not stay focused for long. School-age kids and teens get the most out of it and can easily spend four hours. If your child is under 5, the Bay Area Discovery Museum across the Golden Gate is built for that age. For a closer hands-on museum, The Tech Interactive in San Jose is a similar idea with more focus on technology.

Accessibility

The museum lends a limited number of wheelchairs free at the Information Desk for an ID deposit. An elevator reaches the Bay Observatory gallery on the second floor. Strollers are also lent free, first come, first served. Sensory kits hold fidget toys, a plush toy, sunglasses, ear protectors and a communication board. Weighted lap pads are available too. A sensory map marks quieter spaces. Things tend to be calmer after 3 p.m. and on fall weekends. Disabled person parking is nearby and placard holders park free at street meters. Service animals may enter the Tactile Dome lobby but not the dome itself.

Food

The Tinkering Table restaurant serves build-your-own bowls and made-to-order meals from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on most open days and from 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Catalyst Coffee Lab sells espresso and snacks from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. For more choice, the Ferry Building is a 10 to 15 minute walk south along the water.

Tips and pairings

• Skip Mondays. The museum is closed.
• Book the Tactile Dome early. The museum strongly recommends advance tickets.
• Aim for late afternoon. The museum says things tend to be calmer after 3 p.m.
• Bring a jacket. The piers catch the bay wind even on warm days.

The Embarcadero makes pairing easy. Aquarium of the Bay at Pier 39 is about a mile north. Ferries to Alcatraz leave from Pier 33 in between, though the island closed on October 26, 2026 for dock repairs with a return expected around mid-November. For a second museum day, the California Academy of Sciences covers animals and space. Our San Francisco day trip and rainy day guide have more. You can browse San Francisco family activities to round out a weekend.

Frequently asked questions