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 The first thing we saw when we entered was Claude the Albino Alligator. He happened to have his home right next to some restrooms.


 
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Another interesting attraction in Golden gate park is The California Academy of Science. Not to be confused with Star Fleet Academy which will be headquartered a few miles away in the 25th Century. This is actually more like a science museum. I thought the admission price quite stiff, $30 for adults. But behold, one of just four free days per year was coming up, Super Bowl Sunday was free. Considering what a football fan I am it was a tough choice (NOT). Fact is, I didn't even know who was playing. I met Diana there just about opening time and the line seemed like a mile long. I guess a lot of people wanted to save that $30 also. For a while we wondered if this was such a good idea. But we were assured that the halls of The Academy could handle this crowd and when we did finally get in it was crowded but I think it was worth it.


 

 

 
 Dispatch 6c

The California Academy of Science

   5 Feb 2012

 

 

 
The Oakland Museum

The Japanese Tea Garden in Golden gate park
A quick visit to Haight street 

 
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 This is a photo I took of The Academy from the observation deck of the de Young art museum across the street on a subsequent day.
 

 

 
 After Claude (and that other call of nature) we started downstairs in the underwater world.
 
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They have an underwater tunnel. Yeah, Sea World and Atlantis have something like it, it's cool.
 
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A perhaps less common feature is the Rain forest dome. You must pass through an air lock to enter. They keep it very hot and humid to simulate a rain forest environment. From time to time I could see steam dispensed by the humidifiers. Visitors go up a spiral walkway to ascend into the rain forest canopy.

 
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 Here a docent explains the roof to Diana.
 
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And what would any visit to a science museum be with checking on the Giant Cockroach collection ?

 
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And lastly we were surprised to find a scull collection showing that they had found a new specimen (far end) that will turn the entire science of evolutionary anthropology  on it's ear !
 
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The Oakland Museum



The Japanese Tea Garden in Golden gate park
A quick visit to Haight street 




 

 

 
 

 

 
 Want to see a short video from inside the CAoS rain forest featuring?

1. Looking down to the water, You can see people walking through he underwater tunnel from above.

2. Butterfly's interacting with a kid in a green shirt

3. Camera swings up and you can see steam sprayed from the humidification system keeping the display hot and muggy, unlike the rest of San Francisco.

4. More Butterfly's



 

 

 
 The roof of the building is a bit of an experiment itself. You may have noticed those glass hatches, some are open, others not. They are used to control temperature inside the building. The CAoS bills itself as having the “Greenest” science museum building and it may well be true. The living roof covered with plants native to the area is quite an experiment in itself. If you believe what they say on their web site this roof saves a huge amount of energy and absorbs a lot of storm water that would otherwise be runoff.