Exploratorium
The Verdict
"Hands-on science museum founded in 1969 by physicist Frank Oppenheimer, relocated to Pier 15 on the Embarcadero in April 2013. About 600 exhibits at a time, drawn from over 1,000 the museum has built. After Dark Thursdays are 18+ with cocktails. The Tactile Dome needs a separate reservation."
What you need to know
The Exploratorium is a hands-on science museum founded in 1969 by physicist Frank Oppenheimer at the Palace of Fine Arts. It moved to Pier 15 on the Embarcadero in April 2013. About 600 exhibits are on display at any time, drawn from more than 1,000 the museum has built. The Tactile Dome is a pitch-black crawl-through structure that requires a separate reservation. The Bay Observatory at the back of the pier looks out over the waterfront. After Dark events on Thursday evenings are 18+ with cocktails and special programs.
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