Check out our current exhibits, shows, tours, special events, and lectures. From frolicking penguins and out-of-this-world planetarium shows to scientist chats, nature crafts, and sleepovers, there's plenty to explore.
Please note: The rainforest exhibit will be closed for updates from September 5-October 12. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming you back on October 13.
New & Featured
BigPicture 2017
Art meets nature in BigPicture, our annual exhibit of the best wildlife and conservation photography on Earth.
Incoming!
Get up close with asteroids and comets in our newest planetarium show.
Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs
Ancient fossils, magnificent models, and hands-on pterosaur flight simulators await your exploration.
Twilight Zone: Deep Reefs Revealed
Descend into the twilight zone, where sunlight is scarce and every dive yields surprising discoveries.
NightLife Spotlight
NightLife celebrates the best of the Academy with an evening of after hours science inside the green museum.
Event Highlights
Solar Spicules: Dynamic Jets that Power the Sun's Atmosphere
Learn about the new discoveries that are demystifying solar spicules—colossal jets spewing plasma from the Sun.
SuperNatural Halloween 2017
On October 28, trick-or-treat your way through the Academy at night among eerie animals and spooky specimens.
Tours and Specialty Programs
Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the Academy’s exhibits, live animals, and research. Tours offered daily.
Penguins+Pajamas Sleepovers
Get ready for the wildest sleepover ever! Tickets are selling fast, so make your reservations today.
Iconic Exhibits
Morrison Planetarium
Our 75-foot, all-digital dome displays one of the most accurate and immersive Universes ever created.
Kimball Natural History Museum
The Kimball Natural History Museum explores the evolution—and future—of life on Earth.
Steinhart Aquarium
Dive into one of the most biodiverse and interactive aquariums in the world, home to nearly 40,000 live animals.
Ongoing Exhibits
Color of Life
In nature, color is so much more than just décor.
Earthquake: Life on a Dynamic Planet
Take a kinetic journey through seismic phenomena and explore how they fit into Earth's geologic history.
Gems and Minerals Unearthed
Marvel at nearly 400 dazzling and dramatic specimens from the Academy's geology collection.
Tusher African Hall
Explore our evolutionary history while surrounded by dioramas of African wildlife and splashing penguins.
Living Roof
Our living roof is more than beautiful—it's the heart of the Academy.
Human Odyssey
Trace the milestones of our species’ fascinating history by studying skull casts, interactive maps, and more.
The Swamp
Alligator snapping turtles and colorful, freshwater fish circle the albino alligator known as Claude.
Philippine Coral Reef
Where reef fish dart through forests of coral while sharks and rays sail under your feet.
Water Planet
Discover how animals have evolved fascinating methods of living in and out of water.
California Coast
Explore the amazing richness and diversity found in California's coastal waters.
Animal Attraction
Explore some of the animal kingdom's most outrageous (and successful) strategies for meeting and mating.
Project Lab
Witness some of the active scientific research taking place at the Academy every day.
Hands-on Exhibits
Naturalist Center
Get hands-on at the Naturalist Center with real specimens, hundreds of books and films, and interactive games.
Discovery Tidepool
Get up close and personal with the coastal creatures that call California tidepools home.
