Admission includes access to the permanent exhibits, such as the
Space Shuttle Endeavour and other prominent aircraft and spacecraft, and to various demonstrations. A separate ticket is required for the
IMAX movies, most special traveling exhibitions, and special activities that include a
climbing wall,
motion simulator, and a high-wire bicycle.
The two-story, 45,000-square-foot exhibit features display zones with live animals and
aquariums about wildlife and adaptation in different
ecosystems, including a river, desert,
polar region, deep sea, ocean, island and urban areas, as well as the entire planet Earth.[4]
Creative World
An area with hands-on activities and exhibits that explore innovation and invention, with themes involving construction, energy and transportation.
World of Life
Examines the processes of life and similarities among organisms, including food, body organs like the heart and brain, senses, defenses against threats, how living things reproduce which includes a hatching chick display, DNA, and microscopic organisms.
The World of Life exhibit is the home of Tess, the 50 foot human body simulator who, with the help of her animated friend Walt, demonstrate how homeostasis keeps the human body in balance.
SKETCH Foundation Gallery in Science Court - exhibits about the
Solar System, space travel and aviation, displays of historic aircraft, space vehicles and equipment, and space telescopes
The museum's history dates back to the first California State Exhibition building, which opened in
Exposition Park in Los Angeles in 1912, the site of an agricultural fairground from 1872 to 1910. The brick and
terra cotta building, designed by William D. Coates, Jr., state architect, and N. Ellery, state engineer,[7] displayed agriculturally-based natural resources and industrial products from across the state, including
ranching, fish and game,
coal mining, gold mining, oil production, and
lumbering, as well as some of the state's recreational attractions.[8] After World War II, the building also featured exhibits about state science and technology industries.[9][10]
California Museum of Science and Industry
In 1951, the exhibition became the "California Museum of Science and Industry". The State Exhibition building was renamed in honor of major donor and trustee
Howard F. Ahmanson as the Howard F. Ahmanson Building.[11] The hands-on interactive exhibits included themes on agriculture, transportation, electricity, energy, industries, and minerals.[12]
In preparation for the
1984 Summer Olympics, the museum added new exhibits on earthquakes and economics, and an
IMAX theatre.[16] The opening and closing ceremonies for the games were held in the
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which is adjacent to the museum.
California African American Museum
The
California African American Museum was founded in 1981 and housed in the California Museum of Science and Industry building until 1984, when its own facility was opened adjacent to the California Aerospace Museum.
1990s and closing
In 1994, the museum's building was damaged by the
Northridge earthquake.[17] The California Museum of Science and Industry closed in 1996 to prepare for a new facility.
California Aerospace Museum
The "California Aerospace Museum" was also opened in 1984 adjacent to and operated by the California Museum of Science and Industry to coincide with the Summer Olympics.[18][19] It was also known as Aerospace Hall but also commonly known as the California Air and Space Museum/Gallery and the SKETCH Foundation Gallery,[20] and was the first major public work of architect
Frank Gehry.[21] The museum focused on the State's history as a leader in the aviation and aerospace industries and featured a giant, hangar-like space with aircraft and space vehicles and artifacts.
In 1988 the museum's leadership began a to develop a three-phase, 25-year master plan to transform the institution from a science museum to a science education facility.[9] This new facility would be known as the California Science Center. The original museum building closed its doors in 1996 to prepare for the new construction.
Redesign of the original main building (Howard F. Ahmanson building). The north facade of the Science Center retains the facade of former State Exposition Building that opened to the
Exposition Park Rose Garden, but the remainder of the original building was demolished.[9][24]
Science Plaza - Exhibits outside the main entrance of aircraft and science principles.
Exhibits in the new building
World of Life - Explores the science of life in five galleries.
Creative World - Highlights technology in transportation, communications and structures. Features include a virtual reality exhibit to play sports using virtual reality and an earthquake simulator.
Special Exhibits gallery - Exhibits in this room have included a Titanic exhibit, a magic exhibit, a toy exhibit, and the
Human Body exhibit.
ExploraStore - Store specializing in scientific and educational items.
Renovated the historic
160th Regiment State Armory building into the new "Wallis Annenberg Building for Science Learning and Innovation", opened in 2004[26] The building includes the Amgen Center for Science Learning and the K-5 Science Center School, a public magnet school officially known as the Dr. Theodore T. Alexander Jr. Science Center School.[27]
SKETCH Foundation Gallery, Air and Space Exhibits - opened in 2002, a temporary gallery featuring interactive exhibits and artifacts on continuing loan from
NASA and The
Smithsonian Institution.[9]
Air and Space Gallery (former California Aerospace Museum) closed in 2011, with displays moved into the main Science Center in the SKETCH Foundation Gallery.
In 2012, the California Science Center opened a temporary steel structure known as the "
Samuel Oschin Pavilion" to house the
Space Shuttle Endeavour. The structure was designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership and is planned to be replaced by the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center on the east side of the Science Center.[28] In 2015, the museum received the last remaining
Space Shuttle external tank.[29]
Phase III
Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center - planned to open in 2025, the 200,000-square-foot (19,000 m2) addition was formerly titled "Worlds Beyond".[30][31] The
ZGF designed addition is currently under construction. It will house a total of 150 new exhibits, including the permanent home of the
Space Shuttle Endeavour.[32] The center will include a shuttle gallery, which will permanently house Space Shuttle Endeavour, an air gallery that will house 20 airplanes, and a space gallery.[33][34][35]
Gallery
View of entire building
Entrance to California Science Center, with IMAX Theater at the left
^"Early Los Angeles Historical Buildings (1900 - 1925)". Water and Power Associates. Retrieved March 6, 2016. Historical Notes The State Exposition Building, designed by William D. Coates, Jr., state architect, and N. Ellery, state engineer, opened in 1912 and housed simple, agriculturally based displays of natural resources and industrial products from across the state.*
^"Popularizing Math and Science". IBM at 100: Icons of Progress. March 7, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2016. Arguably, the signature example of their efforts for IBM was Mathematica, the first interactive exhibit to make math its subject. Planning a new science wing to debut in 1961, the California Museum of Science and Industry in Los Angeles asked IBM for a contribution. The company turned to the Eameses, who designed a display that, in the words of Charles Eames, would "let the fun [of math and science] out of the bag."
^"Recommendation Report"(PDF). Los Angeles Department of City Planning. June 7, 2012.
Archived(PDF) from the original on June 7, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.