exploratorium

Winter Holidays at the Exploratorium

November 21, 2019–Sunday, January 26, 2020

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Celebrate the holidays Exploratorium-style as two winter traditions return—the whimsical handmade machines of Curious Contraptions and the dazzling lights of Glow.

Looking for creative ways to spend quality time with loved ones? Explore hundreds of perception-altering exhibits, awaken your senses in our famous Tactile Dome, and savor adults-only Thursday nights at After Dark. Plus, you’ll find unusual holiday gifts here for everyone on your list, from unique gadgets to an entire year of memorable experiences.

San Francisco is festive at holiday time, so enjoy the lights and bustle as you stroll along the beautiful Embarcadero waterfront to pay us a visit at Pier 15!

What hours are you open?
Tuesday–Sunday: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Thursday Evenings: (Ages 18+) 6:00–10:00 p.m.
Monday: Closed except select holidays

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Featured Programs

Pegusus
Curious Contraptions

Thursday, November 21, 2019–Sunday, January 26, 2020

Explore fantastical, often amusing mechanical sculptures known as automata. These small, handmade flying, sailing, and cycling machines bring whimsical dramas to life through low-tech mechanisms, inviting you to investigate how they work.

Buckyball art installation
Glow: Festival of Lights

Thursday, December 5, 2019–Sunday, January 26, 2020

Celebrate the holidays and excite your atoms at Glow, our annual festival of ebullient lights and subtle glows celebrating the close of the year. Bask in the mesmerizing gleams of special installations and kinetic sculptures, take a shine to illuminating exhibits, and show your sparkle with scintillating activities.

 

Kaleidoscope

Friday, December 6, 2019– Monday January 20, 2020
Preview on Thursday, December 5, 2019 • 7:00–10:00 p.m. (Ages 18+)

Experience a landscape of astonishing visual effects. Constructed as an 8-foot-square light table, artist Karina Smigla-Bobinski’s Kaleidoscope invites you to manipulate layers of inks comprised entirely of the primary colors. Each touch of the surface generates hyperdynamic images that visualize motion energy.

Jan
4
Cinema Arts: Mechanical Marvels

Saturday, January 4, 2020 • Noon

Each film constructs its own world of wonder. From epic journeys on a micro-scale to mechanized performances, these movies are geared to drive your imagination!

Jan
5
Storytime Science for Kids

Sunday, January 5, 2020 • 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

Join us the first full weekend of every month for Storytime Science! Enjoy a science-themed storybook read aloud followed by a simple related activity geared toward very young children.

Jan
5
Cinema Arts: Mechanical Marvels

Sunday, January 5, 2020 • Noon

Each film constructs its own world of wonder. From epic journeys on a micro-scale to mechanized performances, these movies are geared to drive your imagination!

Jan
10
A Royal Walk with the King Tide

Friday, January 10, 2020 • 10:00–11:00 a.m.
High Tide: 6.91 feet at 10:35 a.m. (NOAA prediction for Pier 41)

Learn about what causes the tides, why we have King Tides this time of year, and the Port's Waterfront Resilience Program and related sea-level rise and resilience projects

Jan
10
A Royal Walk with the King Tide

Saturday, January 11, 2020 • 10:45–11:45 a.m.
High Tide: 6.94 feet at 11:20 a.m. (NOAA prediction for Pier 41)

Learn about what causes the tides, why we have King Tides this time of year, and the Port's Waterfront Resilience Program and related sea-level rise and resilience projects

Jan
11
All Hands On Science: Cranky Contraptions

Saturday, January 11, 2020 • 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Join us on the second weekend of every month for All Hands on Science, a family-oriented make-and-take activity. This month, tell a little story by creating your own hand-crank motion toy.

Jan
11
Cinema Arts: Lights, Color, Action!

Saturday, January 11, 2020 • 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 p.m.

Inspired by our glowing installations, this brilliant selection of short films feature and array of colorful illuminations.  Gather around the screen and enjoy their warm radiance.

Jan
12
All Hands On Science: Cranky Contraptions

Sunday, January 12, 2020 • 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Join us on the second weekend of every month for All Hands on Science, a family-oriented make-and-take activity. This month, tell a little story by creating your own hand-crank motion toy.

Jan
20
Exploratorium Open Martin Luther King Day

Monday, January 20, 2020 • 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

The Exploratorium will be open to the public on Monday, January 21, 2020.

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