Masks and vaccinations are recommended. Plan your visit

Science as a Process

Bay Lexicon is a visual dictionary made up of illustrated flash cards, exploring the landscape visible from the Bay Observatory’s windows as well as places and phenomena along the shoreline between Fort Point and Hunters Point.

Where: Fisher Bay Observatory Gallery 6: Observing Landscapes

Energy from Death

A decaying carcass makes a perfect meal for an assortment of scavengers, including the dermestid beetles you can see in this exhibit. As they feast on these carcasses, the dermestid beetles and their larvae get their energy and nutrients from the dried flesh, skin, and other tissues.

Where: Gallery 4: Living Systems

Lab Illustrations

Conklin spent several weeks observing the Exploratorium's life sciences laboratory and produced a number of original works that capture the inner workings of the facility. Beyond hand-rendered “portraits” of the many organisms cultured in the lab, Conklin successfully and beautifully captured the process and practices of staff biologists.

Where: Gallery 4: Living Systems

Observatory Library

The Observatory Library is the Bay Observatory’s research center, providing context and historical insight to the local landscape just beyond the windows.