Exploratorium Hours Information

San Francisco is one of the best vacation destinations. It is not just because of the Golden Gate Bridge or a ride on a world-famous trolley car. Actually, there is a wealth of great places to see and things to do while you are here. Many may know about the enticement of the stunning Palace of the Fine Arts, but there is also Exploratorium, just in the landmark of the palace, that has more entertainment value.

Founded in 1969, Exploratorium is an amazing museum of science, art and human perception in San Francisco. It houses hundreds of hands-on exhibits that center on everything from sea life to the weather and electricity. The notable feature of the museum is Tactile Dome - an interactive excursion through total darkness, which is perennial popular with kids and adults of all ages.

If you are planning on a visit to the museum, you should stagger these days including Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and Mondays (except Memorial Day, Labor Day, Martin Luther King Day and President's Day), as the Exploratorium is closed on these day. The normal hours of the museum are from 10am to 5pm from Tuesday to Sunday.

During first Thursdays of the month, the museum is also open from 6pm to 10pm for Experience Life after Dark. This is an evening series specifically for adults, complete with cocktails, conversation and playful, innovative science and art events.

For visitors to the museum for the Experience Life after Dark, the museum will be closed from 5pm to 6pm. If you arrive prior to 5pm, make sure to keep your admission sticker and receipt for re-entry to the museum at 6pm. For more info and details, visit this page:

Experience Life after Dark at Exploratorium

http://www.exploratorium.edu/afterdark/

If you would like to make an exploration of Tactile Dome, buy a ticket for Tactile Dome at a fee of $20 (general museum admission included). The hours of Tactile Dome are as the same as the museum hours. An advance reservation is highly recommended. You can call (415) 561-0362 for reservations. Take a look at the following schedule and choose a favorite and an alternative time before you call for your reservation.

- Tuesday through Sunday: 10:15am, 12pm, 1:45pm, 3:30pm and 5pm

- Friday and Saturday: after-hours at 6:45pm

It takes 75 minutes to explore the area. You can expect to explore the dome two or three times. Please note same day reservations will not be accepted over the phone from Memorial Day to Labor Day due to peak attendance during the summer months.

To have a more enjoyable experience at the museum, take advantage of Exploratorium Free Day that is first Wednesday of each month. Visitors are entitled to free admission if visiting on that day. However, due to capacity limit, groups of 10 or more need to make a reservation in advance. Otherwise, they may not be admitted. Please note free day may only be valid for general admission. Special events or exhibits at the museum may still require an admission. You can find the events calendar on this page:

Exploratorium Events Calendar

http://www.exploratorium.edu/visit/calendar/#/?i=1

For museum explorers, don't miss out the Exploratorium Store. Like the museum itself, the store is brimming with wonderful things to look at, play with and learn from for everyone from kids to so-called grown-ups. The store is open whenever the museum is open. To learn more about Exploratorium Store, check this page:

Exploratorium Store

http://store.exploratorium.edu/

Need a break while touring the museum? There is also a cafe at the museum to serve your needs. You can take a break and watch the action from the cafe, situated under the skylight area. The cafe is open every day the museum is open, serving both snacks and light meals. There are also box lunches available for groups by prior arrangement. Check this page for details.

Meal Options for Groups at Exploratorium

http://www.exploratorium.edu/visit/groups/meal_options.php

Tips: To visit the museum, you don't have to go through a coat or luggage check. But there are lockers offered at a minimal cost. The largest lockers can hold large bags and luggage, with dimensions up to 30″ * 22″ * 12″.

For visitors with disabilities, all exhibition areas, the store, cafe and all public restrooms in the museum are wheelchair accessible. The museum also offer a limited number of free wheelchair rentals at the museum office. If you borrow a wheelchair, you are required to leave an ID as a deposit.

Guided dogs and other certified assistance animals are allowed inside the museum. If you need assistance while visiting the museum, you can turn to any explainer who is a museum guide wearing a bright orange vest.