CultureCastINTELLIGENCE

Predictive Cultural Attraction & Crowd Engine

science centerEst. 1853 • EIN: 94-1156382

California Academy of Sciences

Aquarium, Planetarium, Rainforest, and Living Roof Under One Living Dome

55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
Median Dwell: 3.4 hrs
Official Website
Bang-for-Buck Index
74.6/100
Rank #8 Nationally • #2 in CategoryDedicated Crowd Forecast →
Living 4-Story RainforestDynamic Pricing ModelGolden Gate Park Anchor
Adult Admission$44.50Child: $34.50
Net Endowment (990)$410.0M8.2x Annual Op Revenue
Annual Attendance1.4M4.6 ★ (29,400 reviews)
Philanthropic Subsidy$34.22 / visitUnderwritten by donors & trusts

Curatorial Scope & Campus Footprint

Based in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, the Cal Academy is a renowned scientific and educational institution dedicated to regenerating the natural world through innovative exhibitions and research.

Civic Free Days & Community Policy

Quarterly Free Admission Days for SF residents by neighborhood zip code.

Campus Footprint412K sq ft
Collection Holdings46.0M works
Title I School Access72/100 Index
Donor Propensity89/100 Score

Visitor Sentiment Audit

4.6 ★ (29K)
Core Exhibits & Curation92.0%
Facility & Architecture94.0%
Ticket & Value Fairness58.0%
Top Visitor Praises
  • •Four-story living rainforest dome
  • •Living roof and albino alligator Claude
  • •Morrison Planetarium shows
Common Visitor Friction Points
  • •Dynamic pricing pushes tickets over $45
  • •Busy lunch lines
  • •Concourse garage parking fills up quickly

30-Day Forward Crowd Forecast

Predictive hourly density curves combining search intent, seasonal trends, and local mobility

Low Moderate Busy Peak
Monday, 2026-11-02Peak Density (94/100)

Recommended Entry Window: Strictly opening door time (9:30 AM–10:30 AM)

Forecast StatusClear / Climate Controlled

Hourly Crowd Density Curve (10 AM – 5 PM)

38%
10 AM
71%
11 AM
89%
12 PM
94%
1 PM
86%
2 PM
75%
3 PM
52%
4 PM
28%
5 PM

Total Cost of Visit Calculator

Itemized expense simulation factoring admission tiers, concession markups, parking fees, and pass discounts.

2
1
0
0
Estimated Total Visit Outlay
$214.50for 3 people
Admission Tickets$123.50
Parking$28
Onsite Dining$63
Cost / Person:$72
Cost / Dwell Hour:$63.10/hr
💡 Cost Optimizer Tips

• Take advantage of Quarterly Free Admission Days for SF residents by neighborhood zip code..

• Public transit or nearby garage apps save up to $14 on parking.

IRS Form 990 & Endowment Transparency

EIN: 94-1156382 • Fiscal Year 2024 Filings

501(c)(3) Verified
Endowment Size$410.0M8.2x Program Revenue
Philanthropy & Grants$46.2M44.0% Support Ratio
Admissions Revenue$49.8MOperating Gate Intake
Donor Subsidy / Visit$34.22Philanthropic Underwriting
Total Operating Expenses: $94.5MFiscal Deficit: $-4.2M

Cal Academy of Sciences’s endowment covers approximately 52 months of operating overhead. Every visitor admission is offset by $34.22 in contributed donations, grants, and investment yields.

Institutional Elasticity & Gate Revenue Simulator

Empirical demand curve simulation calibrated to elasticity coefficient (-0.68)

Elasticity: -0.68
Modeled Adult Admission Ticket Price$49.50
Free ($0)Current: $44.50Premium ($90)
Price Adjustment
+11.2%
vs. $44.50 baseline
Projected Attendance
1.2M(-7.6%)
Annual Foot Traffic
Projected Net Gate Revenue
$61.7M(+$1.6M)
Annual Ticket Gross
Low Risk — Revenue Accretive

Minimal friction on philanthropic conversion pipeline.

Head-to-Head Peer Benchmarking

All institution matchups →
Direct Comparison DossierCal Academy of Sciences vs. Denver Nature & ScienceV-Score: 74.6 vs 89.2 • Gate: $44.50 vs $24.95

Frequently Asked Questions & Visit Logistics

How much does admission cost?

General adult admission is $44.50, children $34.50, and seniors $38.50.

Are there civic free days or discounts?

Quarterly Free Admission Days for SF residents by neighborhood zip code.

How long should I plan to visit?

Mobility data indicates visitors spend a median dwell time of 3.4 hours to explore the full permanent collection and grounds.

What are the parking and dining options?

On-site garage/lot parking is approximately $28. Dining is serviced by The Academy Cafe & Terrace ($21/meal).

Related Peer Cultural Institutions

View all in science center →
Denver, CO
V-Score: 89.2

Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Prehistoric Journey, Space Odyssey & Rocky Mountain Wildlife in City Park

Admission$24.95
Median Dwell3.4 hrs
Crowd LevelModerate
Endowment$180.0M
100% Free ParkingSCFDD Community Free Days
1.8M visitors/yrView Forecast→
Merritt Island, FL
V-Score: 80.4

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Space Shuttle Atlantis, Saturn V Rocket & Gateway to Mars

Admission$75
Median Dwell5.5 hrs
Crowd LevelHigh Density
Endowment$45.0M
Authentic Space Shuttle Atlantis5.5hr High Dwell Commitment
1.8M visitors/yrView Forecast→