Explore earth, ocean and space - all in one place. Topped with a living roof, the newly rebuilt California Academy of Sciences is home to an aquarium, planetarium, and natural history museum.  From the splashing penguins in African Hall to the wildflowers on the 2.5-acre living roof, the building is bursting with life.

A four-story living rainforest allows you to explore the ecosystems of Borneo, Madagascar, Costa Rica and the flooded Amazon. In the world’s deepest living coral reef tank, you'll see thousands of reef fish darting through a technicolor forest of coral, alongside sharks and rays cruising through a mangrove lagoon.

In the planetarium, a live presenter will take you on a guided tour of our solar system and beyond, through the most accurate and interactive digital Universe ever created.  Several updated favorites from the original museum will return in the new Academy, including the dioramas of African Hall, the alligator-filled Swamp, and the popular Foucault pendulum.

Designed by prize-winning architect Renzo Piano, the new Academy is the largest public building in the world to achieve LEED Platinum status.  Daily interactions with animals, educators and biologists within immersive, hands-on exhibits offer discovery and wonder for guests of all ages.

Penguin feedings, coral reef dives, and other programs take place every day. Check www.calacademy.org for a full schedule of programs and lectures. Tickets may be purchased in advance online at www.calacademy.org or at the door.

Founded in 1853 as the first scientific institution in the West, the California Academy of Sciences' mission is to explore, explain, and protect the natural world. Conducting research in eleven fields of study, the Academy's natural history collections are utilized by scientists from around the world. Academy scientists discover, collect and study invaluable specimens of animals, plants, minerals and anthropological artifacts from around the world.

WACHOVIA WEDNESDAYS

Free admission is available to visitors on the third Wednesday of every month, presented by Wachovia. Admission is on a first come, first served basis, and early arrival is recommended due to the likelihood of high demand. Also, please note that final entry to the museum is 4pm and, finally, that there will be no members-only entrance on free days.

SAN FRANCISCO NEIGHBORHOOD FREE DAYS - 2009

Free admission is available for San Francisco residents in each zip code during the designated dates listed at www.calacademy.org/visit/plan_a_visit. Neighborhood Free Days are presented by Bank of America.