Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination is now required for all visitors ages 12+. Plan your visit
Aeolian Harp
An eerie orchestral chord floats on the breeze; it’s the shimmering sound of a 27-foot tall harp being strummed by the wind.
Where: Gallery 5: Outdoor Exhibits
Catch the Sound Waves
These simple glass tubes separate the sounds of the Exploratorium into distinct tones.
Where: This exhibit is not currently on view.
Echo Tube
Make a sound into the echo tube and listen for it to reflect back from the far end. You’ll hear a half-second delay, and strange distortions created by the journey.
Where: Gallery 5: Outdoor Exhibits
Echo Tubes
Experiment with echoes with these three long tubes. Why does a clap come back as a ping? What does it take to make a good echo?
Where: This exhibit is not currently on view.
Lariat Chain
This artwork by Norman Tuck demonstrates that a very simple system—a metal chain hanging from a motor-driven bicycle wheel—can generate complex behaviors.
Where: Gallery 2: Tinkering
Wave Organ
Sound at this wave-activated acoustic sculpture is created by the impact of waves against the pipe ends and the subsequent movement of the water in and out of the pipes. The sound heard at the site is subtle, requiring visitors to become sensitized to its music, and at the same time to the music of the environment.
Where: San Francisco Marina jetty
