July 29, 2009

Post date: Aug 3, 2009 6:57:17 PM

The newly remodeled (2008) California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park is a world-class science museum. It is one of the 10 largest natural history museums in the world, and contains over 40,000 animals. The museum houses the world's largest all-digital planetarium, a 4-story rainforest exhibit, and the world's deepest living coral reef display. The building itself disappears into the park's greenery, because it is virtually hidden under a 2.5 acre living roof. The roof's 1.7 million native plants attract birds and butterflies, and its curves mimic the 7 major hills of San Francisco. I especially enjoyed seeing a rare albino alligator in the swamp section of the museum. Many people thought the alligator wasn't real until he moved!