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Exploratorium Fact Sheet
Mission, Vision, and Values
The Exploratorium is a public learning laboratory exploring the world through science, art, and human perception.
Our mission is to create inquiry-based experiences that transform learning worldwide.
Our vision is a world where people think for themselves and can confidently ask questions, question answers, and understand the world around them.
We value lifelong learning and teaching, curiosity and inquiry, our community, iteration and evidence, integrity and authenticity, sustainability, and inclusion and respect.
Recent Praise and Accolades
In January of 2018, The New York Times Magazine featured the Exploratorium as one of "The Ten Coolest Museums in the World."
The Exploratorium is #1 of 106 museums in San Francisco on Trip Advisor.
In January of 2018, 7x7 called the Exploratorium's new After Dark membership "the sexiest museum membership ever."
The Exploratorium won four 2018 Webby Awards, sweeping both the People's Voice and the official Webby in two categories.
Our LEED Platinum certified building at Pier 15 was acknowledged with Acterra's 2018 "Sustainable Built Environment Award."
The Exploratorium's After Dark creative campaign won the 2018 Communication Arts "Award of Excellence."
AWARDS AND OTHER RECOGNITION FOR THE EXPLORATORIUM
Fast Facts (for FY18)
STAFF
Sakurako and William Fisher Executive Director: Chris Flink
Employees:
- Full time: 252
- Part time and on call: 183
- High School Explainers: 203
- Volunteers & Interns:
- Total Volunteer Hours: 15,239
- Volunteers: 231
- College+ interns: 14
CAMPUS
The building was awarded LEED® Platinum certification in 2014.
Pier 15 has 218,000 sq. ft. with 75,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space.
Nine-acre campus of piers, public park, and open water.
There are more than 650 interactive exhibits created by staff scientists, exhibit developers, and artists.
Pier 15 features six main exhibit galleries and additional exhibits in free, public space; a 200-seat theater; a life sciences laboratory; wired classrooms and labs; machine, wood, and electronics shops; two stores; and a restaurant and café.
FINANCIALS
FY18 budget: $45 million
Endowment: $60 million
ATTENDANCE AND MEMBERSHIP
801,465 Total Attendance
75,351 After Dark visitors
125,607 Total Field Trip visitors
74,925 Field Trip visitors with free admission
16,043 Membership Households
DIGITAL REACH
Our website, which launched in 1992, was one of the first 600 websites online. It now features about 25,000 pages of content and has about 2 million viewers each month.
Social media channels:
