Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination is now required for all visitors ages 12+. Plan your visit
After Dark
See for Yourself
Every Thursday Night • 6:00–10:00 p.m. PT
Adults Only (18+)
Note: Free for members and donors—only membership card and ID are required for entry.
Things look different after dark. Lose yourself in hundreds of interactive exhibits in spacious galleries exploring perception, art, and science. Grab your friends and a drink and get immersed in everything from a fog bridge to a large-scale kaleidoscope, dazzling light displays, mind-bending mirrors, and more. Or savor adults-only programming featuring unique guest speakers, great music, specialty films, and one-of-a-kind activities. It'll change how you think about the world around you. But don't take our word for it—see for yourself!
Members See More After Dark.
Unlimited access to 50+ After Dark evenings a year—for less than the cost of three tickets.
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Upcoming Events
After Dark: Light Play
Thursday, December 9, 2021 • 6:00 p.m. PT
Can you describe how the images you see are formed? See for yourself at our many hands-on exhibits, then join staff educator Zeke Kossover to break apart the how of light.
After Dark: Motion Pictures
Thursday, December 16, 2021 • 6:00 p.m. PT
Celebrate visual storytelling—and the light that makes it possible. From early photographic experiments to inventors that tested the potential of lasers for the cinematic landscape, come bask in the glow of the many forms cinema can take.
After Dark: See For Yourself
Thursday, December 23, 2021 • 6:00 p.m. PT
Spark your curiosity at After Dark—bask in the light of the ten illuminating and interactive artworks currently on view as part of Glow: The Art of Light, and more.
After Dark: See For Yourself
Thursday, December 30, 2021 • 6:00 p.m. PT
Spark your curiosity at After Dark—bask in the light of the ten illuminating and interactive artworks currently on view as part of Glow: The Art of Light, and more.
Learn More
Tinkering at Home
Tinkering is an active, hands-on approach to learning about the world. Try this collection of prompts using everyday materials.
Remember when something wonderful happened… and it was science?
Today, the Exploratorium needs your help. Sustain the wonder for future generations.
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