Discover a world where the walls seem alive and your hands tell you more than your eyes. Come to the Exploratorium and experience a whole new way of feeling in the Tactile Dome. You will crawl, climb, and slide through amazing textures in complete darkness, using only your sense of touch to guide you. The Tactile Dome is a unique experience that's perfect for parties and group outings.

Here is the original 1971 Tactile Dome press release

What do "the people" have to say about the Dome?

Here are artist Richard Registar's comments about his work with the Tactile Dome

A visit to the Tactile Dome requires a special admission fee. Space is limited; Advance reservations are highly recommended. Admission is $15 per person ($10 for school field trips, October to June). This fee includes admission to the Exploratorium for the day.

Reservations can be made by calling (415) 561-0362 Monday through Friday, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Private parties are available for groups of 15 to 20 people.

Tactile Dome Schedule

You can book the Tactile Dome for the following times of the day. You might want to choose a favorite and an alternate time before you call for your reservation to speed up the process. We look forward to seeing you (and not seeing you!).

Times 10:15 12 noon 1:45 3:30 5:00 6:45
Monday ** ** **      
Tuesday * * * * * *
Wednesday * * * * * *
Thursday * * * * * *
Friday * * * * * *
Saturday * * * * * *
Sunday * * * * * *
** Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day only.

The small print:
The Tactile Dome is not recommended for children under the age of 7, people with back or knee injuries, people in casts, people with claustrophobia, or women in their last trimester of pregnancy.

© Exploratorium