The Exploratorium is opening on Wednesday at Pier 15. The new $300 million location, a restored pier, is three times the size of the old one, and it's a state-of-the-art green building, outfitted with solar panels and a heating and cooling system that uses water from San Francisco Bay.
So what should you know before you visit?
Well, first of all, you might want to buy tickets in advance.
The museum opens its doors at 10 a.m., and pre-sale tickets are already selling out (although on opening day the museum staff will be doing science demos for people standing in line to get in.)
On the other hand, you don't have to buy tickets to experience the Exploratorium. There are outdoor exhibits on the pier that are free and open to the public.
There's a lot of new stuff. And familiar favorites.
The Exploratorium is taking advantage of its new location on the Bay. One gallery, called the Bay Observatory, is full of exhibits about the tides, weather, water and air -- you get the picture. The Exploratorium is working with partners such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to collect data and share the results with scientists and, of course, museum visitors. Another new gallery focuses on human behavior and social interaction.