Cal Academy Herpetology Collection
The Verdict
"The research collection is behind the scenes and not part of regular admission. Occasional behind-the-scenes tours give access. Check the Cal Academy website for special events. The public aquarium and rainforest are the main draws."
What you need to know
315,000 Reptile and Amphibian Specimens
The California Academy of Sciences houses the sixth-largest herpetology collection in the world, with over 315,000 catalogued specimens of reptiles and amphibians from 175 countries. The collection started in 1853 with a single Galápagos tortoise shell and has grown into a major research resource used by scientists worldwide. Most of the collection is in behind-the-scenes research storage, but the Academy’s public exhibits showcase live reptiles and amphibians from the collection’s study subjects.
What Makes It Worth It
The public-facing exhibits in the Academy’s rainforest dome and aquarium feature live specimens connected to the research collection: poison dart frogs, chameleons, snakes, and the Academy’s famous albino alligator, Claude. The connection between what you see alive in the exhibits and the 315,000 preserved specimens being studied in the back rooms gives the experience an extra dimension if you know it’s there.
The Academy occasionally offers behind-the-scenes tours that include access to the research collections. These are ticketed events and sell out quickly. If you can get one, you’ll see rows of specimen jars stretching to the ceiling. It’s a very different experience from the public galleries.
For most visitors, the Academy of Sciences itself is the attraction (rainforest dome, aquarium, planetarium). The herpetology angle is a bonus for anyone interested in reptile and amphibian biology.
Visiting
Address: California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9:30 AM-5:00 PM. Sunday, 11:00 AM-5:00 PM.
Cost: $42 adults, $37 seniors, $32 kids 4-11. Free for members. Behind-the-scenes tours extra.
Best time to go: Weekday mornings for fewer crowds. Thursday evenings for NightLife (21+ events with cocktails).
What to know: The herpetology research collection is not visible during regular visits, only during special behind-the-scenes tours. The live exhibits are accessible with regular admission.
Getting There
Transit: Muni N-Judah to 9th and Irving, then walk. The 44-O’Shaughnessy stops at the Music Concourse.
Parking: Music Concourse garage (paid). Free street parking on Lincoln Way.
Walking: In the Music Concourse area of Golden Gate Park, next to the de Young Museum and Japanese Tea Garden.
📍 Location: This activity is in The Richmond. Explore the neighborhood →
